MEMORIAL 


REV.  WILLIAM  HOOPER  ADAMS, 


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THE  EEV.   WILLIAM   H.    ADA3IS. 


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REV. WILLIAiVl  H.ADAMS 


WALKER,  EVANS  &  COGSWELL,  PRINT. 


A  MEMORIAL 


OF  THE  r.ATE 


REV. WILLIAM  H.ADAMS, 


FOR  TWELVE  YEARS  PASTOR  OF  THE  CIRCULAR  CHURCH 


C£3.A.IiLESXO]Sr,  s.  c. 


PitO/is/u-d  by  his  Fnciuis,  and  Members  of  the  Congre- 
gation, as  a  Tribute  of  Res  pee  J:  ami,  Esteem  to  their 
Lamciited,  HonnrtUt>'n'fiU"B'vi'oi'^d  Pastor. 


_ 


FUNERAL  OF  THE  REV.  W.  H.  ADAMS. 


The  funeral  services  of  the  late  Rev.  W.  H.  Adams 
took  place  at  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  at  4 
o'clock  yesterday  afternoon.  The  church  was  well 
filled  by  people  of  every  denomination  and  all  the 
walks  of  life,  the  number  and  character  of  the  con- 
grec^ation  testifying  to  the  esteem  and  respect  in 
which  tlie  deceased  had  been  held  in  the  community. 
The  number  and  beauty  of  the  floral  offerings  con- 
tributed by  sympathizing  friends  was  the  subject  of 
general  remark.  Conspicuous  among  these  testimo- 
nials was  a  crown  of  immortelles  and  a  wreath  and 
cross  of  exquisite  natural  flowers,  a  tribute  from  the 
orphans,  of  whose  cause  Mr.  Adams  was  a  zealous 
advocate  and  friend. 

The  casket,  which  lay  in  the  vestibule  of  the  church 
during  the  day,  was  borne  to  the  altar  rails  by  the 
following  clergyman  :  Rev.  J.  A.  Chambliss,  Right 
Rev.  P.  F.  Stevens.  Rev.  C.  S.  Vedder,  Rev.  David 
Levy,  Rev.  W.  S.  Bowman,  Rev.  G.  N.  Well,  Rev.  E. 
J.  Meynarde,  Rev.  J.  M.  Green,  Rev.  W.  H.  Campbell 
and  Rev.  C.  R.  Chrietzberg.  The  funeral  procession 
was  headed  by  the  pastor  of  the  church,  Rev.  G.  R. 
Brackett,  and  contained  a  number  of  the  leading 
clergymen  of  the  city.  The  Scriptures  were  read  by 
the  Rev.  W.  F.  Junkin,  after  which  Dr.  Brackett  and 
Dr.  Chambliss  delivered  brief  but  touching  and  elo- 
quent tributes  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Bowman  then  announced  the  favorite  hymn 


of  the  deceased— one  that  he  had  sun^  but  shortly 
before  his  death — "My  God,  the  Spring  of  all  my 
Joys,"  which  was  sung  by  the  choir.  A  prayer  by 
Dr.  Vedder  and  the  benediction  by  Bishop  Stevens 
closed  the  services,  and  the  remains  were  then  taken 
to  Magnolia  Cemetery  for  interment. 


FUNERAL  ADDRESS 

BY    RE\'.    (i.    R.    HRACKETT,     D.D. 


It  was  a  prayer  of  the  Psalmist,  "Take  me  not 
away  in  the  midst  of  my  days" ;  and  when  Job 
thought  he  was  about  to  die,  he  uttered  the  lament, 
"  My  purposes  are  broken  off,  even  the  thoughts  of 
my  heart."  But  death  to  a  good  man  is  never  prema- 
ture. He  is  not  cut  off  in  the  midst  of  his  days. 
His  sun  never  goes  down  at  noon.  Every  Christian 
life  is  complete  ;  a  perfect  day  with  its  gray  dawn,  its 
noon-tide  brightness,  and  sunset  glory.  "That  life  is 
long  which  answers  life's  great  end." 

''We  live  in  deeds,  not  years  ;   in  thoughts,    not  breaths  ; 

In  feelings    not  in  figures  on  a  dial. 

We  should  count  time  by  heart  throbs.      He  most  lives 

Who  thinks  most,  feels  the  noblest,  acts  the  best. 

Life  is  but  a  means  unto  an  end  ;    that  end 

Beginning,  mean  and  end  of  all  things — God. 

The  dead  have  all  the  glory  of  the  world 

We  have  read  of  earthly  structures  that  were  left 
incomplete  ;  but  there  is  no  vacant  niche  in  this  living 
Temple.  There  are  no  fragmentary  remains  of 
unfinished  Christian  work.  The  believer  is  himself 
complete  in    Christ,    and    he    has    finished   the  work 


given  him  to  do.  "  A  living  stone,  chosen  and  pre- 
cious in  its  own  chiselled  individuality,"  he  is  set  in 
his  appointed  place  in  the  "  Building  of  God"  ;  and 
every  block  he  has  himself  hewn,  or  upon  which  he 
has  bestowed  any  labor,  will  find  the  destined  place 
that  is  waiting  for  it.  Looking  earthward  through 
the  eye  of  reason  or  sense,  our  deceased  friend  and 
brother  was  "  cut  down  in  the  midst  of  his  days,"  and 
"  the  purposes  of  his  heart  were  broken."  He  has 
left  unfinished  plans,  and  precious  hopes  are  disap- 
pointed. But  "  the  steps  of  a  good  man  are  ordered 
by  the  Lord.  There  are  many  devices  in  the  heart 
of  man,  but  the  counsel  of  the  Lord,  it  shall  stand." 
The  divine  plan  was  completed,  his  earthly  mission 
fulfilled,  and  another  sphere  of  usefulness  was  waiting 
for  him,  for  which  he  had  just  finished  his  preparatory 
training. 

We  cannot  hope  to  do  justice  to  such  a  life  in  the 
few  moments  allotted  to  us.  That,  we  trust,  will  be 
done  on  another  occasion.  We  desire  not  to  eulogise 
the  dead,  but  to  offer  a  simple  tribute  of  affection  to 
one  whom  w^e  honored  as  a  faithful  servant  of  God, 
and  loved  as  a  brother. 

He  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Nehemiah  Adams,  of  Boston, 
and  irjherited  many  of  the  qualities  of  his  honored 
father ;  the  same  affability,  suavit)',  and  obliging 
manner;  the  same  courteous  and  gentlemanly  bear- 
ing towards  all  classes  of  men.  Condescending  to 
men  of  low  estate,  he  had  a  kind  and  encouraging 
word  for  all  :  for  the  chimney  sweep  and  the  scaven- 
ger that  removed  the  rubbish  from  his  door.  To  the 
stranger  there  was  the  appearance  of  studied  grace 
and  fulsome  flattery  ;  but  he  who  knew  him  well,  and 
his  antecedents,  would   discover  that   this   abundant 


flow  of  kindly  feeling   was  as  natural   as  a    gushing 
spring. 

The  type  of  his  piety  was  deeply  experimental  and 
devotional.  To  him  Jesus  was  a  personal  friend  ;  and 
as  "  Enoch  walked  with  God,"  so  he  sought  to 
realize  the  habitual  presence  and  companionship  of 
the  Saviour.  He  lived  in  communion  with  God,  and 
cultivated  the  habit  of  ejaculatory  prayer,  and  of 
turning  the  current  of  conversation  into  religious 
channels. 

A  graduate  of  the  Boston  Latin  School  and  of 
Cambridge  University,  he  entered  Andover  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  and  completed  his  theological  course  in 
the  Seminary  at  Columbia,  S.  C.  He  entered  the 
ministry  thoroughly  furnished  for  his  work,  with  a 
well  disciplined  mind  and  a  varied  and  elegant  culture 
With  no  taste  for  metaphysial  or  polemical  theology, 
he  devoted  himself  with  great  enthusiasm  to  philo- 
logical and  exegetical  studies.  His  pulpit  preparations 
were  elaborate  and  scholarly.  "  Beaten  oil  for  the 
lamps  of  the  sanctuary,"  was  his  motto,  and  he  resolved 
"  never  to  serve  the  Lord  with  that  which  cost  him 
nothing."  The  Bible  was  his  chief  study.  He  had 
gone  over  the  entire  Scriptures  in  the  instructions  of 
the  pulpit  and  lecture  room,  which  were  enriched 
with  all  the  treasures  he  could  gather  from  commen- 
taries, encyclopedias  and  every  department  of  science 
and  literature.  Pointing  on  one  occasion  to  the 
drawer  that  contained  his  sermons  and  manuscripts 
he  remarked :  "  That  is  my  life-work  and  my  life- 
blood."  He  published  one  small  work,  entitled  "The 
Seven  Words  from  the  Cross,"  and  had  projected  the 
plan  of  several  larger  and  more  elaborate  works.  But 
he  was    interrupted    in    his   literary    projects   by   the 


death  of  his  venerable  father.  To  write  his  biography 
and  edit  his  posthumous  works,  was  the  fih'al  trust 
wliich  he  felt  was  providentially  committed  to  him. 
To  these  literary  labors  of  love  he  devoted  himself 
during  the  last  year  of  his  life.  It  was  his  most  fer- 
vent desire  that  he  might  complete  his  honored 
father's  memoirs  ;  but  the  son  was  called  away  from 
this  delightful  task  to  join  the  sainted  father  where 
all  earthly  labors  have  an  end. 

The  devotional  service  of  the  sanctuary  was  as 
carefully  and  faithfully  prepared  as  his  discourses. 
He  studied  the  spiritual  wants  of  his  people  as 
thoughtfully  as  his  books.  Hence  the  singular  ap- 
propriateness of  his  prayers,  which  seemed  to  inter- 
pret the  peculiar  experiences  of  every  class  of  hearers. 
He  entered  by  a  personal  sympathy  into  the  expe- 
rience of-evcry  member  of  his  flock.  It  was  remarked 
by  one  who  had  enjoyed  his  pastoral  ministrations, 
that  his  visits  were  "  like  those  of  angels,  dropping 
heavenly  benedictions." 

He  had  his  share  of  afflictions  and  trials,  but  they 
never  beclouded  the  perpetual  sunshine  of  his  cheer- 
ful and  buoyant  spirits.  He  felt  it  the  duty  of  a 
Christian  to  be  always  happy.  ^However  grievous 
the  chastpning,  he  ought  to  "  rejoice  in  the  Lord 
alway."  However  dark  the  dispensation  of  Provi- 
dence, he  ought  to  dwell  in  the  "  light  of  God's  coun- 
tenance." The  assurance  of  the  per.sonal  presence 
and  sympathy  of  his  Saviour  never  forsook  him.  His 
faith  in  prayer  and  the  promises  of  divine  guidance 
was  so  strong  and  unwavering  that  it  gave  almost  a 
tinge  of  mysticism  to  his  piety.  This  strong  convic- 
tion, which  no  adversity  could  shake,  combined  with 
his   indomitable   will,  imparted  to   his  constancy  and 


10 


perseverance  in  what  he  believed  to  be  the  path  of 
duty  the  appearance  of  obstinacy.  But  no  one  who 
knew  this  beloved  brother  intimately,  and  was  free 
from  prejudice,  could  doubt  the  sincerity  of  his  motive 
and  purpose.  When  advised  on  one  occasion  to  pur- 
sue a  different  course  of  action,  he  replied  :  "  How- 
can  I  be  decived  in  a  matter  which  I  have  committed 
to  God  and  made  the  subject  of  earnest  and  believing 
prayer  for  so  many  months  ?  "  We  have  rarely  seen 
combined  in  any  Christian  so  much  womanly  gentle- 
ness with  so  much  manly  resolution.  He  may  have 
made  mistakes,  but  they  were  errors  of  the  head 
rather  than  of  the  heart. 

The  general  sketch  of  our  dear  brother  would  be 
incomplete  without  a  brief  mention  of  his  zeal  for 
Christian  union.  It  amounted  almost  to  a  passion. 
He  was  the  life  and  soul  of  all  our  union  movements. 
He  arranged  and  carried  out  the  programme  of  the 
Union  Prayer-meeting.  The  "Clerical  Union''  was 
like  the  body  without  a  soul  when  he  left  us.  It  was 
lifeless.  He  was  the  most  devoted  of  us  all  to  the 
Y.  M.  C.  Association.  In  the  "  Evangelical  Alliance  " 
he  foresaw  the  realization  of  his  happ}'  dream  of 
Christian  union.  It  was  this  spirit  that  drew  him 
affectionately  towards  all  denpminations  and  endeared 
him  to  Christians  of  every  name. 

But  we  must  draw  this  imperfect  sketch  to  a  close. 
It  is  a  difficult  task  for  a  bosom  friend,  to  whom  ever)'- 
thing  was  confided,  to  speak  impartially  and  without 
enthusiasm  for  the  dead.  Whatever  faults  he  had, 
they  are  eclipsed  by  the  brightness  of  his  Christian 
life,  and  the  .splendor  of  his  triumphant  death.  He 
was  a  faithful  preacher,  a  laborious  student,  a  loving 
pastor,  a  devoted  husband  and  father,  a  warm-hearted. 


1 1 


genial  friend,  a  beloved  disciple.  He  loved  the  Sa- 
vi(nir  with  a  supreme  affection,  and,  like  John,  lived 
upon  his  bosom.  \Vc  saw  him  but  once  during  his 
brief  illness.  He  remarked  as  he  pressed  my  hand 
for  the  last  time,  "  I  am  enjoying  delightful  com- 
munion with  my  Saviour  on  this  sick  bed." 

It  is  not  probable  that,  at  any  time  during  his 
illness,  he  gave  up  all  hope  of  recovery.  But  he 
realized  that  his  condition  was  extremely  critical,  and 
he  "  set  his  house  in  orrler,"  and  kept  his  "  lamp 
trimmed  and  burning."  He  called  his  wife  to  his 
bedside,  just  before  she  retired,  and  said  to  her,  "  Let 
us  now  have  our  evening  prayer."  With  folded  hands 
and  feeble,  yet  calm  clear  voice,  he  offered  his  last 
family  prayer.  He  prayed  with  humble  resignation 
that  he  might  live  to  preach  once  more.  He  then 
sang  one  of  his  favorite  hymns,  "  My  God,  the  .spring 
of  all  my  joys"  etc.  In  the  la.st  watch  of  the  night 
the  Master  came  and  "  found  his  servant  watching." 
He  was  sleeping  heavily  when  his  attendant  roused 
him  to  administer  his  medicine.  The  only  response 
he  gave  to  the  question  of  his  wife,  "  Do  you  not 
know  me,  dear  ?"  was,  "  Grace,  grace,  grace,— grace 
and  glory  in  the  great  Congregation."  .Soon  after  he 
fell  asleep,  and  his  dream  of  heaven  was  a  blessed 
reality.  It  has  been  beautifully  said  that.  "  The  place 
for  which  God  created  a  good  man  may  be  in  readi- 
ness for  him.  The  door  which  opens  upon  him 
may  be  ajar  already,"  "On  golden  hinges  turning." 
Bells  "  beyond  the  stars  heard  "  may  be  calling  him. 
In  the  "  morning  watch,"  in  the  solemn  stillness  and 
peace,  he  saw  the  "  Great  Congregation  "  through  the 
door  ajar,  and  shcnited  with  rapture,  "  from  Grace  to 
Glory  " — to  have  lingered  on  earth  a  moment  longer 


12 


would  have  been  an  anomaly,  a  mystery  of  Providence. 
"  From  Grace  to  Glory  /"  Let  not  this  epitaph  be 
sculptured  on  a  broken  shaft,  symbolizing  an  unfin- 
ished life.  Grace  is  glory  begun.  Glory  is  grace 
completed.  Our  brother  saw  the  capstone  laid  upon 
the  finished  temple  of  his  lile,  with  "  shoutings  of 
Grace,  grace  unto  it."     (Zech.  iv.  7.) 

The  following  tribute  is  from  a  sermon  by  the  Rev. 
J.  F.  Chambliss,  D.  D.,  of  the  Citadel  Square  Baptist 
Church,  Charleston,  S.  C. : 

The  sermon  was  from  the. text,  "  Watchman  what 
of  the  night  ?"  and  was  chiefly  a  review  of  the  work 
of  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  from  which  the 
pastor  had  just  returned.  Having  alluded  to  the 
death  of  an  eminent  minister  of  his  own  denomina- 
tion, and  its  effect  upon  the  Convention,  he  thus 
continued: 

"  Yet  there  was  no  despondency.  Men  may  die, 
but  Jesus  lives.  Men  may  die — alas,  how  many  of 
our  hearts  have  a  fresh  sorrow  to-day  as  we  say  it, 
and  think  of  him,  the  noble  and  true,  the  eloquent 
scholar,  the  refined  Christian  gentleman,  the  faithful, 
able  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  now  sleeping  his  last 
sleep  over  there  in  his  beloved  cottage  on  the  beach  ! 
You  will  let  me  turn  aside  a  moment,  brethren,  to 
speak  of  him,  for  )'ou  also  loved  him.  How  often  and 
how  gladly  was  he  welcomed  to  this  pulpit !  Almost 
the  last  message  he  bore  from  God  to  man  was  de- 
livered from  this  desk,  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  April. 
For  the  two  Sabbaths  included  in  my  recent  absence, 
he  had  promised,  with    his   accustomed    kindness,  to 


13 

stand  here  in  my  place  and  break  to  you  the 
bread  of  life.  But  "even  then  he  was  far  from  well, 
and  expressed  some  fear  that  he  might  not  be  able  to 
fulfill  his  engagement.  Even  so  God  willed  that  it 
should  be,  and  you  heard  his  voice  no  more.  Yester- 
day morning,  a  little  before  the  break  of  day,  when 
his  condition  seemed  to  have  improved,  when  other 
friends  had  withdrawn  from  his  bedside,  and  only  she 
stood  near  him  whose  life  was  bound  up  in  his,  her 
heart  leaping  with  hope  revived,  he  uttered  a  few 
words  of  prayer,  then  suddenly  exclaimed,  "From 
grace  to  glory— glory  in  the  great  congregation," 
he  passed  away  to  be  forever  with  the  Lord. 

Ah,  friends,  this  was  a  death  to  be  wished  for  and 
prayed  for,  but  it  was  such  a  death  as  could  close  and 
crown  only  such  a  life  as  his— a  life  of  exalted  piety, 
of  intimate  communion  with  the  Father  and  with  His 
Son,  Jesus   Christ. 

My  acquaintance  with  Brother  Adams  began  on  this 
platform  nearly  eight  years  ago,  at  the  service  of 
welcome  which  marked  the  beginning  of  my  pasto- 
rate. It  fell  to  his  lot  to  greet  me  on  behalf  of  the 
ministry  of  the  city,  and  as  I  listened  to  his  cordial 
words,  looked  into  his  large  soulful  eyes  and  felt  the 
grasp  of  his  brotherly  hand,  he  seemed  to  me  a  man 
with  whom  it  would  be  a  joy  to  labor  side  by  side 
for  the  Master.  It  was  a  joy  through  all  these  years. 
That  we  were  connected  with  different  branches  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  hindered  not  at  all  for  us— as 
such  a  fact  should  never  hinder  for  Christian  souls- 
closeness  and  sweetness  of  fraternal  intercourse.  And 
I  can  honestly  say  that  I  never  knew  a  man  who 
seemed  to  me  to  have  more  of  the  spirit  of  the  Lord. 
If  there  were  any  who  injured  or  spoke  ill  of  him,  it  is 


f 


M 


certain  there  were  none  of  whom  he  ever  spoke  un- 
kindly. He  loved  and  prayed  for  all.  Above  almost 
any  minister  I  have  known,  he  appeared  to  live  in  an 
atmosphere  of  devotion.  He  was  a  diligent  and  syste- 
matic student,  scholarly  in  his  tastes  and  habits;  but 
the  desk  of  the  scholar  was  ever  the  altar  of  the  saint, 
odorous  with  the  incense  of  prayer. 

Of  his  honored  life  as  a  preacher  and  pastor  in  this 
city  tor  ten  years,  the  occasion  does  not  suffer  me  to 
speak.  But  I  could  not  pass  on  without  one  simple 
word  of  love  and  sorrow  for  my  friend  and  brother. 
God  help  us  to  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ!" 


TRIBUTE    FROM    THE    REV.    JOHN    PRIOR. 

PASTOR  OF  THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  LEXINGTON,  MASS. 


J/)'  Barr  Mr.  Porttv  : 

I  heartily  avail  myself  of  the  opportunity  of  ex- 
pressing my  affection  and  respect,  by  giving-  a  brief 
tribute  of  remembrance  to  my  beloved  friend  and 
brother  Rev.  W.  H.  Adams. 

I  early  marked  a  blessed  peculiarity  in  Bro.  Adams 
— would  that  it  was  a  universal  trait  in  us  all — that 
he  evidently  was  influenced  in  his  feelings  towards  his 
brethren  of  different  denominations,  by  the  same 
spirit  which  the  apostle  manifested  when  he  said. 
"  Grace  be  with  all  of  them  that  love  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  sincerity."  In  this,  following  in  the  steps 
of  the  Master  who  said  :  "  Whosoever  will  do  the 
will  of  my  Father,  who  is  in  Heaven,  the  same  is  my 


15 


brother  and  sister  and  mother."  While  a  firm  and 
unflinching  advocate  of  his  own  denominational 
views,  yet  great  tenderness  was  joined  to  his  decision. 
It  was  not  the  offspring  of  obstinacy  or  bigotry,  but 
of  principle;  not  prejudice,  but  enlightened  convic- 
tion. His  was  the  abiding  spirit  of  brotherly  love, 
and  in  his  deportment  to  those  of  other  bodies  I 
never  saw  anything  like  shyness  or  estrangement. 

During  tile  period  of  your  absence,  as  you  know, 
we  had  many  social  meetings  both  at  the  Hancock, 
and  Baptist  Church,  in  Lexington,  as  well  as  at  pri- 
vate houses,  and  he  evidently  felt  as  much  at  home, 
and  as  among  brothers  and  sisters  in  one  place  as  in 
the  other.  My  own  small  flock,  equally  with  myself, 
were  always  edified  by  his  sermons  and  addresses  ; 
and  Bro.  Adams  seemed  fully  to  reciprocate  the  feel- 
ing, when  after  service  at  our  Church  he  would,  with 
all  his  native  heartiness,  grasp  my  hand  and  say: 
"  Dear  Brother  I  have  had  a  real  feast  to-day."  He 
often  said  to  me,  "  There  is  room  enough  here  for 
both  of  our   Churches,  may  God  prosper  your  labor 

of  love." 

The  young  members  of  both  congregations  will  not 
forget  his  affectionate  addresses  to  them  ;  and  I  doubt 
not  impressions  were  thus  made  by  him,  which  will 
never  be  eradicated. 

In  all  the  visits  he  paid  and  received  I  noticed  that 
he  was  quite  leady  to  encourage  religious  discourse. 
It  was  clearly  the  element  congenial  with  his  spirit. 
His  conversation  was  on  subjects,  rather  than  persons, 
and  no  tattler  or  slanderous  busybody  found  in  him  a 
ready  listener  ;  such  talk  was  at  once  frowned  down. 
I  noticed  that  in  promi.scuous  company,  in  a  general 
way,  at  first,  he  was  rather  reserved  than  communica- 


i6 


tive,  hut  as  soon  as   he    felt   he   could   trust,  then  his 
heart  was  opened  and  his  tongue  unrestrained. 

T  loved  Bro.  Adams  greatly,  and  when  he  left  earth, 
so  unexpected!}'  to  me,  I  knew,  sadly,  I  had  lost  a 
friend  ;  for  our  communications,  as  ministers  of  the 
Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  were  always  pleas- 
ant, and  I  trust  mutually  profitable.  And  yet,  why 
should  we  mourn  ?  Surely  not  for  him,  he  has  left 
earthh'  joys  and  sorrows  to  be  with  Him  "  whom  not 
having  seen  he  loved,"  and  long  'ere  this  has  received 
the  well  deserved  plaudit,  "  Well  done,  good  and 
faithful  servant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 

I  wrote  to   his   bereaved  wife   some   time   since   as 
soon  as  I  heard  of  his  death,  and   I   have  only  to  say 
his   beloved    and    afflicted    family   have    my    deepest 
sympathy,  in  which  Mrs.  Pryor  most  heartily  joins. 
Yours,  very  truh', 

JOHN  PRYOR. 


tributp:  from  the  rev.  john  haskell, 

PASTOR  OF  THE  BAPTIST    CHURCH,   BILLERICA,  MASS. 


On  my  first  meeting  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Adams  at  his 
home,  in  Charleston,  .S.  C,  in  November,  1873,  I  was 
much  impressed  with  the  deep  sincerity  of  the  man; 
and,  also,  the  profound  sympathy  he  manifested  in  the 
welfare  of  others;  but  most  of  al^,  the  evident  conse- 
cration of  himself  to  his  Lord  and  Master.  His  piety 
made  him  attractive  and  genial  in  a  high  degree. 

And  this  was  not   merely  a   first   impression   but  a 


growinf;^  one  on  the  continued  and  more  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  him. 

He  spent  the  first  Sabbath  in  November  last  with 
me,  and  preached  an  instructive  and  impressive  ser- 
mon in  the  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  his  address 
on  the  subject  of  Infant  Baptism — as  he  then  baptized 
my  httle  child — will  long  be  remembered  as  an  attrac- 
tive setting  forth  of  this  subject  and  a  convincing  argu- 
ment. 

The  recollection  of  the  Communion  season  that 
followed,  conducted  chiefly  by  him,  will  be  cherished 
as  of  special  interest.  Indeed  the  influence  of  that 
Sabbath  floated  like  a  benediction  of  peace  on  those 
gathered  in  the  sanctuary. 

I  have  thought  if  the'  labor  of  love  on  that  single 
day  was  of  so  much  value  ;  how  much  we  may  ex- 
pect he  will  accomplish,  with  the  Divine  blessing  for 
the  many  that  need  to  be  won  to  Christ,  and  helped 
on  in  the  heavenly  race.  How  much  such  a  man  is 
needed  !  What  a  future  of  efficient  service  was  before 
him!  But  I  must  not  forget  nor  cease  to  be  thankful 
to  God  for  the  great  and  good  work  he  had  already 
accomplished. 

Though  to  our  shortsighted  vision,  this  Dear 
Brother  was  summoned  far  too  soon  from  the  impor- 
tant work  he  was  domg  so  well  ;  a  work  that  needed 
to  be  done,  and  that  few,  if  any,  could  do  as  accepta- 
bly ;  yet  we  must  humbly  bow,  and  cheerfully  accept 
the  appointment  of  the  all-wise  Providence  of  God. 
and  as  he  doubtless  did  or  would  say;  "  Not  my  will, 
but  thine  be  done." 

I  received  a  letter  from  him  dated  Marcii  25th, 
1880,  saying  : 

"  Expecting  to  leave  Tuesday,  afternoon,   next,  for 


i8 


Cheirleston,  S.  C,  to  spend  the  summer  at  my  cottage 
on  Sullivan's  Island,  having  accepted  the  invitation  of 
the  Church  there  to  serve  as  its-  summer  pastor,  I 
write  to  take  leave  of  you,  and  express  my  sense  of 
obligation  for  your  kind  offices  to  me." 

"  I  have  dwelt  on  my  Sabbath  under  your  hospita- 
ble roof  with  ever  pleasurable  memories,"  &c. 

As  I  often  think  of  the  kind  offices  he  performed 
so  fraternally  for  me,  my  sense  of  obligation  remains 
uncanceled. 


FROM  AN  ABSENT  RELATIVE 


It  seems  incredible  that  God  has  taken  him  away  ; 
so  good,  gifted,  pure,  useful,  with  so  much  to  do,  and 
so  many  dependent  upon  liis  life. 

I  mourn  over  the  loss  of  that  great  love,  that  con- 
stant interest  and  good  counsel,  which  continually 
came  to  me  in  his  letters  ;  my  pride  is  laid  low,  the 
confident  expectation  that  he  was  to  become  great  in 
his  calling,  be  honored  in  usefulness,  and  be  a  great 
joy  in  perpetuating  his  Father's  name,  and  works  in 
the  ministry  of  the  Gospel.  What  a  beautiful  memory 
remains  to  us  !  I  often  said  he  was  the  best  man  in 
the  world — so  strong,  able,  intelligent,  warm-hearted, 
merry,  courageous,  devoted  to  duty,  loyal  to  the 
truth,  and  withal  so  meek,  patient,  enduring. 

How  truthful  he  was,  as  God  was  slowly  hedging 
up  his  way  in  the  North,  and  how  clear  he  was  that 
the  door  opened  southwards,  and  yet  it  was  to  lead 
him  to  death.  I  presume  the  thought  and  effort  of 
removal,  and  re-settling,  did  much  to  weary  and  de- 
press him,  and  enfeeble  his  power  of  resisting  disease. 


J- 


19 


EXTRACT  FROM  A  LETTER  FROM  A  HOME 
MISSIONARY. 

KEV.     S.     E.      LATHKOP,    LATE    PASTOR    OF    NEW    LONDON", 
WISCONSIN. 


The  brief  acquaintance  I  had  with  your  brother, 
during  my  visit  to  Boston,  impressed  me  deeply  with 
his  earnest  consecration  and  sincere  devotion. 

His  abihties  also  fitted  him  to  stand  in  his  Father's 
place,  which  is  the  highest  praise  that  could  be  given 
to  ordinary  mortals. 

His  loss  will  be  deeply  felt,  not  only  by  his  friends 
but  by  thousands  who  knew  him  only  as  the  gifted 
son  of  a  gifted  father. 


TRIBUTE  FROM  A  FRIEND. 


•'The  memory  of' the  just  is  blessed." 

Precious  to  my  heart  are  the  memories  that  cluster 
around  the  acquaintance  I  have  had  with  Mr.  Adams. 

It  was  at  a  time  when  my  heart  and  faith  were 
being  sorely  tried  that  he  commenced  his  loving  min- 
istrations among  us.  His  affectionate  grasp  of  the 
hand,  his  soothing  words  of  comfort  in  the  social 
walk  of  life,  and  .spiritual  notes  of  warning  and  en- 
couragement from  the  pulpit  fell  like  a  balm  upon 
my  troubled  soul. 

Never  has  he  left  me  wherever  we  chanced  to  meet. 


20 


that  life  has  not  seemed  dearer  and  Heaven  nearer 
through  the  influence  of  his  conversation. 

He  preached  in  a  style  rather  savoring  of  the  "  old 
school"  theology,  and  though  to  some  it  was  uncon- 
genial truth,  I  always  felt  roused  to  stricter  action, 
and  more  grateful  for  the  precious  promises  by  the 
train  of  thought  which  he  presented. 

While  with  us  he  was  often  requested  to  preach 
less  doctrinal  sermons,  and  has  said  that  he  had  often 
seated  himself,  pen  in  hand,  to  frame  a  different  dis- 
course, but  the  hand  of  God  seemed  to  restrain  him  ; 
he  must  preach  the  whole  truth,  and  impelled  by  the 
spirit  that  filled  the  immortal  Luther  he  could  not  do 
otherwise. 

Had  it  been  ^ven  him  to  foreknow  that  he  was 
speaking  \\\s  last  messages  to  the  Church  militant,  he 
could  not  have  spoken  with  a  more  certain  sound. 
He  often  said  that  he  must  preach  as  a  "  dying  man 
to  dying  men." 

Blessed  is  the  memory  of  the  smiling  face  which 
evei  went  in  and  out  among  us. 

Though  over-tasked  by  labors  and  having  drank 
the  cup  of  grief,  he  gave  others  the  sunshine,  and 
"told  Jesus  the  rest." 

"  The  heart  that  trusts  forever  sings. 
And  feels  as  light  as  it  had  wings." 

And  it  was  this  sweet  trust  which  enabled  him  to 
cheer  the  despondent  and  strengthen  the  faint,  for  he 
made  God 

''The   spring  of  all  his  joys, 
The  life  of  his  delights." 

His  affection  for  our  beloved  pastor  found  expres- 
sion in  word  and  deed. 


21 


Their  loving  walks,  taking  sweet  counsel  together,  in 
such  true  sympathy,  must  have  been  a  sight  to  rejoice 
the  angels  ;  now  the  one  is  taken  and  the  other  left, 
and  "  surely  the  ways  of  God  are  past  finding  out." 
He  has  entered  the  portal  of  that  immortal  city  which 
has  no  need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon,  to  shine 
in  it,  for  One  is  there  who  is 

"The  soul's  bright  morning  star, 
And  He  the  rising  sun." 

Let  US  walk  in  the  footseps  of  our  departed  friend, 
wait  upon  God  as  he  did, — 

"  Feel  as  He  did  when  his  teet 

Were  slipping  over  the  brink, 
For  it  may  be  we're  nearer  home. 

Nearer  now  than  we  think  " 

A.  W,  M. 


TRIBUTE  FROM  A  FRIEND. 


Impelled  b)'  a  desire  to  give  expression  to  ni)^  high 
appreciation  of  the  life  and  character  of  the  beloved 
and  lamented  Adams,  and  my  sense  of  the  loss  sus- 
tained by  this  community  in  his  death,  the  writer 
would  ask,  for  this  humble  tribute,  a  place  among  the 
many  others  which  will  be  offered  at  the  Memorial 
Service. 

Commemorating  departed  excellence  is  the  last  .sad 
office  we  can  perform  for  those  who  in  life  were  bound 
to  us  by  the  ties  of  friendship  and  sympathy. 

Altho'  a  member  of  another  Communion,  the 
writer    deems    it   a   prixilege   to    unite  with    his  own 


22 


people  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  high  esteem  with 
which  he  was  regarded  while  he  labored  in  our  midst, 
and  the  deep  sorrow  experienced  in  his  removal  by 
the  ruthless  hand  of  death. 

He  was  possessed  of  the  highest  and  noblest  quali- 
fications of  a  minister  of  the  Holy  Gospel  ;  a  devo- 
ted untiring  Pastor,  a  genial  companion,  a  warm  friend 
an  earnest,  faithful  preacher. 

Of  a  gentle  disposition,  and  sympathetic  nature,  he 
was  ever  ready  to  lend  a  listening  ear  to  the  cry  of 
distress  and  to  ciitcr  into  the  sorrow  of  each  stricken 
heart,  offering  in  the  name  of  the  Master,  all  the  com- 
fort and  consolation  which  religion  affords,  and  which 
when  offered  in  the  gentle,  sympathizing  manner  so 
characteristic  of  this  faithful  man  of  God,  were  doubly 
comforting  and  consoling. 

When  called,  himself,  to  pass  through  the  waters 
of  deep  sorrows,  he  saw  in  them  the  hand  of  a  merci- 
ful Father,  ever  proving  by  his  life  and  conduct  that 
tiie  religion  which  he  preached  had  power  to  sustain 
him  even  amid  the  bitterest  trials  of  life.  Such  were 
his  qualities  as  Pastor,  Citizen,  Friend,  that  he  was 
beloved  by  the  whole  communit\  as  witli  a  single 
heart. 

In  the  providence  of  God,  he  has  been  called  to  a 
higher  life,  and  we  must  bow  in  submission  to  the 
Divine  decree,  but,  even  while  we  mourn  our  loss,  we 
may  rejoice  to  know  that  it  is  his  eternal  gain. 

His  life  was  comparatively  short,  but  his  life's  work 
was  "  well  done,"  and  we  know  that  he  has  "  entered 
into  the  joy  of  his  Lord." 

After  an  absence  of  two  years,  which  were  spent  in 
the  land  of  his  birth,  he  returned  to  the  home  of  his 
adoption,  and  the  hearts  of  his  friends  were  made  glad. 


_ 


23 

at  his  return;  but,  even  in  the  midst  of  the  rejoicing 
the  summons  came  and  we  were  called  to  give  him 
up,  to  see  him  on  earth  no  more. 

Even  in  death  we  claim  him  ours,  for  we  have  laid 
him  to  rest  in  our  beautiful  "Silent  City."  Ever  will 
his  memory  be  cherished  by  those  who  knew  and 
loved  him,  here. 

December  6th,  1880. 


MEMORIAL    OF    REV.    WILLIAM    HOOPER 
ADAMS. 

BY    REV.    JOHN    R.    DOW. 


Adopted  by  Charleston  Presbytery,  November  18,  1880. 


At  the  meeting  of  our  Presbytery,  in  Columbia, 
S.  C.  last  spring,  we  had  in  attendance  our  beloved 
fellow-presbyter,  Rev.  William  H.  Adams;  a  few 
days  after  the  adjournment  of  our  body,  his  spirit 
passed  tranquilly  from  time  to  eternity,  and  we 
would  now,  by  suitable  action,  embalm  his  memory 
for  the  good  of  those  of  us  who  survive 

*  *  *  ''■'■  *  * 

Bro.  Adams  had  been  for  weeks  looking  forward 
with  great  pleasure  to  the  meeting  in  Charleston  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  to  which  he 
belonged,  expecting  to  see  face  to  face  at  the  convo- 
cation of  the  tribes  of  our  Israel,  many  dear  brethren 
and    cherished    friends  ;    but,    five    days    before    the 


famous  third  Thursday  in  May  arrived,  he  had  gone 
to  join  "  the  General  Assembly  and  Church  of  the 
first-born  which  are  written  in  Heaven."  We  feel 
assured  that  he  died  as  he  had  lived,  in  the  full  faith 
"  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God." 

The  funeral  services  were  held  on  the  following 
Monday,  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  church,  Charles- 
ton. A  large  congregation  filled  the  lower  part  of 
the  sanctuary  and  the  colored  people  crowded  the 
galleries.  Almost  all  the  ministers  of  the  various 
denominations  of  Christians  in  the  city  were  in  atten- 
dance, and  felt  that  they  had  lost  a  beloved  brother 
and  a  faithful  fellow-servant  in  the  Lord.  After 
impressive  services,  conducted  chiefly  bv  Dr.  Brack- 
ett,  his  remains  were  borne  to  Magnolia  Cemetery  ; 
and  there  they  were  left  under  the  watch  and  ward  of 
Zion's  King,  who  has  doubtless  already  crowned  his 
steadfast  follow^er  and  loj-al  cross-bearer,  and  now  : — 

"  Tht  love  that  lingers  o'er  his  name 
Is  more  than  tame," 

Brother  Adams  served  Charleston  Presbytery  for 
five  years  as  Stated  Clerk  of  our  body,  and  his  suc- 
cessor in  the  office  now  takes  pleasure  in  testifying  to 
his  faithfulness  and  ability  in  discharging  the  onerous 
duties  of  his  office. 

On  Sabbath  the  loth  of  June,  1877,  Mr.  Adams 
was  in  Georgia  on  a  visit  to  friends  in  that  State,  and 
by  his  invitation  the  writer  of  this  memorial  preached 
in  the  pulpit  of  the  Circular  Church,  Charleston.  I 
had  prepared  to  expound  the  closing  clause  of  Matt- 
hew's gospel,  being  the  words,  "  And,  Lo,  I  am  with 
you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.  Amen." 
When  I  enterec^  the'sacred  desk  ni)-  eye  was  attracted 


-'> 


by  a  card  hanging  inside  of  the  pulpit,  in  full  view  of 
the  minister,  but  unseen  by  the  congregation,  and  it 
contained  the  words  of  my  text  for  the  day.  This 
"  exceeding  great  and  precious  promise  "  of  the 
risen  Redeemer  doubtless  often  cheered  and  strength- 
ened our  dear  brother's  heart  amid  his  arduous  labors 
and  numerous  tribulations.  The  gracious  presence 
of  the  sympathizing  Saviour  appeared  to  be  his  con- 
stant joy.  ',' /-^^  /  (lyi  ivitli  you  ahvav"  seemed  to 
take  the  bitterness  out  of  his  grief,  the  heaviness  out 
of  his  care,  the  sharpness  out  of  his  trials,  and  the 
sting  out  of  his  death. 

Brother  Adams  was  a  heavenly-minded,  cheerful 
and  loving  Christian,  and  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel, 
was  able,  earnest,  and  zealous.  It  can  truly  be  said 
of  him,  as  it  was  said  of  another  preacher  of  Christ 
after  his  decease,  "  There  was  no  taint  of  bigotr}'  in 
his  nature.  All  followers  of  Christ  .were  Christians  to 
him,  and  in  every  sinner  he  saw  a  possible  saint,  and 
hoped  and  prayed  that  the  possibility  might  be  real- 
ized." 

Mr.  Adams  was  twice  married.  First  to  Miss 
Pauline  Thomas  of  Athens,  Ga..and  afterwards  to  Miss 
Margaret  E.  Holmes,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  who,  with 
two  young  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl,  survives  him, 
and  to  whom  this  Presbytery  now  extends  its  most 
affectionate  sympath)',  and  upon  whom  we  invoke 
the  blessing  of  tiie  Gracious  One,  of  whom  it  is  writ- 
ten in  the  bo(jk  of  truth,  "  A  father  of  the  fatherless, 
and  a  Judge  of  the  widows  is  God  in  his  holy  hab- 
itation." 


26 


TRIBUTE    BY    THE    PRESIDENT    OF     THE 
CHARLESTON  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


Charleston,  Dec,  21st,  1880. 
Rev.  Dr.  G.R.  Brackett : 

Dear  Sir  :  I  understand  that  you  are  preparing 
a  memorial  of  the  late  Rev.  W.  H.  Adams,  late  Pas- 
tor of  the  Circular  Church  in  this  City. 

Mr.  Adams  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  Man- 
agers of  the  Charleston  Bible  Society  of  which  I  am 
President,  and  I  would  respectfully  propose  to  add 
my  tribute  of  respect  and  regard  for  his  memory. 
Mr  Adams  was  one  of  the  most  zealous  of  our  Man- 
agers in  extending  the  distribution  of  the  Bible 
among  the  destitute,  particularly  among  the  seamen 
who  came  under  his  jurisdiction,  and  the  kindness  of 
his  manners  combined  with  his  zeal  to  make  him  one 
of  the  most  useful  and  beloved  of  our  members.  Our 
warmest  sympathies  attend  him  to  that  Rest  whither 
his  works  have  followed  him. 

Respectfully  Yours, 

C.  G.  MEMMINGER, 
President  of  tJie  Charleston  Bible  Society. 


27 

The  following  arc  the   resolutions  passed  by  Man- 
cock  Church,  in  reference  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Adams: 

Whereai.  Our  Heavenly  F.ither,  in  His  mysterious  wisdom,  has  called 
home  the  Rev.  William  Hooper  An.Mvis,  who  so  faithfully  labored  amongst 
us  in  the  ministrations  of  the  Gospel  during  the  absence  of  our  Pastor  — 

Reiol-ved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  Hancock  Church,  Lexington, 
at  a  meeting  called  for  the  purpose.  May  28,  1880,  do  hereby  express  our 
deep  sense  of  the  loss  we  have  sustained  in  the  death  of  one  who  was  an 
able  preacher  and  expounder  of  God's  truth;  one  whose  heart  was  in  his 
chosen  work,  and  one  whose  whole  life  was  devoted  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 

Resolved,  That  we  extend  to  the  bereaved  family  our  sincere  sympathy 
in  this  great  sorrow,  commending  them  in  our  prayers  to  the  tender  care  of 
the  great  Comforter  whose  compassions  fail  not. 

Resol-ved,  That  this  action  be  entered  upon  the  records  of  the  Church; 
and  copies  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  and  also  furnished  for  pub- 
lication. 

W.   R.  CUTTER,  Clerk  of  Church. 

Lexington,  Mass.,  May  29,  1880. 


EXTRACT   FROM  A    MEMORIAL  ADOPTED 
BY  THE  SYNOD  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 


Brother  Adams  was  an  earnest  preacher  of  the  Gos- 
pel, an  active  Presbyter,  a  faithful  Pastor,  a  true  and 
faithful  friend,  a  polished  scholar,  and  a  refined  and 
eleo-ant  <^entleman.  It  was  his  constant  endeavor  to 
advance  the  cause  of  his  Redeemer  in  the  city  where 
he  lived,  and  was  ever  foremost  in  all  good  works. 
1  lis  loss  is  greatly  folt  by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
and  by  many  true  friends  within  the  bounds  of  this 
Synod.  He  leaves  a  dependent  family  to  mourn  his 
early  death,  for  whom  the  prayers  of  the  members  of 
this  Synod  are  earnestly  desired. 

C.  E.  CHICHESTER,  Chairman. 


28 

* 

FROM  GRACE  TO  GLORY. 

BY  REV.  J.  H.   MARTIN,  D.   D.,  OF  ATLANTA,  GA. 


'■  Grace,  grace,  grace — grace    and    glory,   in  the    great    Congregation. 
Last  words  of  Rev.  Wm.  H    Adams. 

Grace,  grace,  free  grace,  'tis  all  of  grace 

That  I  have  been  forgiven, 
A  sinner  of  a  mortal  race, 

And  made  an  heir  of  Heaven. 

'Twas  grace  that  fixed  its  love  on  me 

In  God's  eternal   plan, 
Ordained  that  I  His  son  should  be, 

Before  the  world  began 

'Twas  grace  that  shed  a  Saviour's  flood, 

A  fountain  full  and  free. 
That  washed  me  in  the  cleansing  blood. 

The  stream  of  Calvary. 

'Twas  grace  that  quickened  me  when  dead, 

A  captive  unto  sin, 
And  raised  me  up  vvith  Christ  my  Head, 

Renewed,  alive  within. 

'Twas  grace  that  brought  me  on  my  way, 

And  kept  me  to  this  hour, 
The  cross  I've  borne  from  day  to  day, 

Supported  by  its  power. 

I  nov,'  have  reached  my   journey's  end. 

My  work  on  earth  is  done  p 
From  grace  to  glory  I'll  ascend, 

A  crown  of  life  I've  won. 

I'll  join  the  ransomed  holy  throng 

Around  the  throne  above. 
And  sing  the  everlasting  eong 

Of  Jesus  and  his  love. 


29 


A  SERMON, 


ON  THE  OCCASION  OF  THE  DEATH  OF  THE  REV.  WM. 
H.  ADAMS,  AT  CHARLESTON,  5.  C,  PREACHED  IN  LEX- 
INGTON, MASS.,  MAY  3O,  1880.,  BY  THE  REV.  EDWARD 
PORTER. 

Ps.  Iv  14.  "  We  took  sweet  counsel  together,  and  walked  unto  the 
house  of  God  in  company." 

Since  I  last  .spoke  to  you  from  this  pulpit,  we  have 
received  intelligence  from  South  Carolina,  which  has 
brought  surpri.se  and  grief  to  our  hearts.  Mr. 
Adams  left  us  so  recently  in  the  full  pos.session  of 
manly  strength,  with  much  promise  of  a  long  career 
of  usefulness  in  his  chosen  work,  that  we  in  common 
with  all  his  friends,  were  astonished  to  hear,  by  one 
and  the  same  announcement,  of  his  brief  sickness  and 
sudden  death.  When  the  news  reached  me  at  For- 
tress Monroe,  I  said  to  my  informant,  "  It  must  be 
some  other  Mr.  Adams,  for  my  friend  was  perfectly 
well  a  short  time  ago  when  he  wrote  me  from  Char- 
leston." But  the  next  mail  confirmed  the  sad  tidings 
and  cast  a  long,  deep  shadow  over  my  path. 

I  have  returned  to  you,  my  dear  friends,  from  this 
brief  absence,  laden  with  many  tokens  of  God's  good- 
ness, but  I  have  returned  also  with  a  weight  of  sorrow 
which  craves  expression  as  I  come  before  you  again 
with  a  message  from  the  word  of  God. 

And  the  message  is  not  of  my  choosing.  Whatever 
text  I  take,  God  is  to-day  preaching  the  sermon  by 
this  solemn  event  of  His  Providence.  Oh  !  that  it 
may  be  so  inscribed  upon  our  heaits,  and  consciences, 


tliat  we  may  all  be  chastened  and  sanctified,  and 
made  meet  for  that  inheritance  to  which  our  beloved 
brother  has  so  suddenly  been  called. 

1.  My  first  thought,  in  the  commotion  of  feeling 
which  this  news  awakened,  was  concerning  the 
stricken  family  who  have  thus  been  bereft  of  husband, 
father,  and  brother.  He  was  so  kind,  so  true,  so 
loving  in  all  these  relations  that  his  removal  must 
create  deep,  and  it  would  seem  incurable  wounds. 

Since  we  are  so  situated  that  we  cannot  extend  the 
hand  of  sympathy  as  we  would,  let  our  prayers  con- 
tinue, to  ascend  to  the  throne  of  Grace  for  the  afflicted 
widow  and  fatherless  child,  that  the  Father  of  mercies 
may  strengthen  them  in  their  weakness,  and  abund- 
antly minister  to  their  wants. 

2.  My  next  thought  concerning  this  event  was  my 
own  personal  loss.  This  brother  was  peculiarly  dear  to 
me.  Our  early  acquaintance,  fostered  bv  an  occasional 
correspondence,  ripened  into  an  intimate  friendship 
during  tlie  last  three  or  four  years,  as  we  had  more 
frequent  opportunities  of  meeting.  During  my  visit 
to  England  last  year,  he  wrote  me  many  brotherly 
and  affectionate  letters,  giving  me  all  the  details  of 
the  pastoral  work  which  he  had  undertaken  amongst 
you,  never  omitting  any  little  incident  which  he 
thought  would  give  me  pleasure.  He  often  wrote  me 
the  subjects  of  his  sermons,  and  in  many  ways  des- 
cribed his  methods  of  labor,  all  of  which  convinced 
me  that  the  L,ord  had  sent  to  you  a  faithful  and  zea- 
lous messenger  of  His  grace. 

On  my  return,  he  met  me  so  cordially  and  handed 
over  the  Avork  with  such  expressions  of  encourage- 
ment and  sympathy  that  I  saw,  at  a  glance,  how  de- 
votedly    he    had    given   himself  to    it.      For    this    I 


4 


31 

loved  liim,  and  for  this  1  shall  ever  retain  his  image  in 
my  memory,  thankful  to  God  that  I  have  had  such  a 
friend,  one  that  was  not  only  true  to  me,  but  true  to 
111}'  work. 

I  know  many  ministers  who  might  have  assumed 
temporary  care  of  this  church,  and  some  who  would 
doubtless  have  done  it  well,  but,  I  frankly  tell  you, 
T  do  not  know  of  one  who  would  have  given  himself 
more  unsparingly  to  the  task  than  this  brother,  who, 
as  we  all  know,  labored  with  the  single  purpose  of 
maintaining  and  promoting  the  highest  interests  of 
the  Church. 

There  are  not  many  such  men  ;  so  unselfish,  so' 
affectionate,  so  true;  and,  as  it  was  partly  for  my 
sake  that  these  noble  qualities  were  manifested  here, 
I  am  glad,  publicly,  to  recognize  them  on  this 
occasion. 

Yes,  brethren,  you  will  understand  how  near  this 
death  comes  to  me,  and  how  deeply  I  feel  it.  Some 
other  man  might  have  been  taken  from  the  circle  of 
ministerial  fellowship  in  which  I  am  accustomed  to 
mingle;  some  other  friend  might  have  been  chosen  ; 
"  but,  it  was  thou,  a  man  mine  equal,  my  friend,  and 
mine  acquaintance,  we  took  sweet  counsel  together 
and  walked  unto  the  house  of  God  in  company." 

This  text  expresses  more  than  any  other,  when  I 
recall  the  relations  which  existed  between  us  since  I 
returned  home  in  September  last.  As  our  friend 
proposed  to  himself  the  execution  of  a  filial  and  sacred 
duty  in  preparing  the  memoir  and  writings  of  his 
honored  father,  he  cho.se  to  continue  his  residence 
with  us,  from  the  interest  he  had  in  the  place  and  the 
people.  During  these  months  I  have  had  many 
precious  opportunities   of   fraternal    intercourse    with 


32 


him,  which  I  shall  never  forget.  We  were  often  in 
each  other's  study,  talking  over  the  affairs  which 
most  intimately  concerned  iis  anti  our  work.  We 
took  frequent  walks  and  occasionaly  a  drive  together. 
We  usually  met  on  the  train  Monday  morning  on 
our  way  to  the  minister's  meeting  in  Boston.  He 
would  always  refer  apprcciatingly  and  minutely  to 
the  services  of  the  previous  day,  showing  how  much 
he  himself  valued  the  preaching  of  others,  and  how 
responsive  he  was  as  a  member  of  the  congregation. 

I  invited  him  to  attend  the  meetings  of  my  clerical 
association  (the  Suffolk  North),  and  he  always  enjoyed 
seeing  so  many  of  our  bretheren,  and  participating  in 
our  deliberations.  We  attended  Ecclesiastical  Councils 
together,  as  at  Cambrige  and  Newton,  where  he  was 
much  stimulated  by  the  theological  statements  and 
spiritual  thoughts  developed  in  the  exercises.  I 
greatly  valued  his  presence  at  the  stated  meetings  of 
our  church.  On  Friday  evening  he  was  often  with  us, 
much  to  our  profit.  His  pra3/ers  and  remarks  were 
uttered  in  such  a  calm,  trustful,  spiritual  tone  thit  I 
could  always  lean  upon  him  as  a  sure  guide,  a  "  fellow- 
helper  to  the  truth."  As  our  houses  were  nearly  ad- 
jacent, we  often  walked  to  church  together,  talking 
freely  upon  the  themes  that  were  nearest  our  hearts, 
so  that  I  can  truly  say,  as  I  think  of  him  whom  I 
shall  see  no  more  on  earth,  "  we  took  sweet  counsel 
together  and  walked  unto  the  house  of  God  in  Com- 
pany." 

3.  But  while  I  have  dwelt  thus  upon  my  sense  of 
the  loss  which  has  come  to  me,  I  do  not  forget  that 
you,  the  members  of  this  congregation,  are  sharing  it 
with  me.  Yes,  many  of  you  know  Mr.  Adams,  in 
some  respects  even    better   than    I    did.      For   a   year 


you  came  directh'  under  liis    influence  as  a   mHiistcr 
ofthe  -ospcl.and  durin-    that   time   you    had   ample 
occasicm  to  observe  how  unremitting  were  his  endeav- 
ors to  discharge  foithfully  the  obligations  which  per- 
tained to  his  position,      lie  instinctively   sought  out 
those  persons  who  most  needed  his  aid— the  sick,  the 
afflicted,  the  aged,  the  young.     In  some  of  your  homes 
he  was  a  freciuent  and  always  a  welcome  visitor.    You 
will  not  forget  those  fervent  prayers  which  he  offered 
for  you.  and  your  families  in  your  dwellings  ;  nor  will 
your  children  forget    the    kindly    notice    he    always 
took  of  them,  not  only  in  his  public  nunistrations.  but 
also  in  the  special  plans  and  appointments    which    he 
made  to  secure  their  personal  and   hearty   interest   in 
the  blessed  Redeemer. 

May  these  labors  and  prayers  be  accepted  ot  God, 
and  graciously  sanctified  to  us  who  remain. 

A  minute  delineation  of  the  life  and  character  of 
our  esteemed  brother  will  hardly  be  expected  from 
any  one  in  this  place,  where  so  small  a  portion  of  h.s 
life  was  spent.  Elsewhere,  this  service  will  be,  or 
probably  has  already  been,  performed.  But  I  know  I 
meet  the  wishes  of  many  here,  if  I  speak  now  of  some 
of  the  principal  events  of  his  life. 

William  Hooper  Adams  was  the  son  of  Nehemiah 
and  Martha  Hooper  Adams,  and  was  born  in  Boston 
January  8,  1838.  His  early  education  was  obtained 
at  the  Brimmer  and  Latin  Schools.  During  the  last 
year  at  the  latter  school,  he  received  a  decided  intel- 
lectual impulse  which  remained  with  him  through 
hfe  He  entered  Harvard  College  in  1856.  and  the 
same  vear  became  a  member  of  Union  Church,  then 
located  in  Essex  Street,  where  his  father  was  so  long 
the  honored  pastor.     In  college  he  was  known    as  a 


34 


man  of  remarkable  religious  fidelity.  He  inter- 
ested himself  earnestly  for  the  "  Society  of  Chris- 
tian,Brethren,"  of  which  he  was  succesiveiy  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Library  Committe,  Secretary  and  President. 
One  of  his  classmates,  (Mr,  George  H.  Whittmore), 
writes  me,  "  I  recall  a  very  pleasant  occasion  when 
the  liberal  hospitality  of  his  father's  house  in  Boston 
was  extended  to  the  Society." 

Mr.  Adams  was  also  a  member  of  a  Greek  Testa- 
ment class  which  met  privately  at  the  house  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Albro  on  Thursday  evenings,  for  the  pro- 
motion of  critical  scholarship  and  spiritual  culture 
under  the  admirable  guidance  of  this  well-known 
Cambridge  pastor,  who  for  years  aided  many  of  the 
undergraduates  in  their  religious  life. 

Young  Adams  completed  his  course  with  honor 
and  was  graduated  in  the  class  ot    i860. 

In  the  Autumn  of  the  same  year  he  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  of  Andover. 

Three  months  later,  his  father  received  a  letter 
from  Samuel  Barnett,  Esq.,  of  Washington,  Wilkes 
Co.  Ga.,  (where  his  second  wife,  Sarah  Williston 
Brackett  had  taught)  asking  him  if  he  knew  of  a 
suitable  young  man  for  a  preceptor  for  the  children 
of  some  of  the  families  there.  After  much  leflec- 
tion  and  prayer,  Dr.  Adams  replied,  projjosing  his 
own  son,  who  he  thought  would  be  benefited  by  the 
change,  and  experience  of  teaching. 

Events  were  then  hastening  which,  a  few  months 
later,  culminated  in  the  memorable  outbreak  of  hos- 
tilities ;  but  until  the  shock  actually  came,  no  one 
really  anticipated  a  war.  When  it  came,  Mr.  Adams 
endeavored  to  return  home,  but  it  was  found  to  be 
impossible,  and  so  he  continued  to  perform  his  duties 


35 

with  ardor,  teaching  his  pupils,  and  also  supplying 
the  pulpits  of  two  or  three  churches  in  the  vicinity, 
whose  jKistors  were  serving  as  chaplains  in  the  army. 
In  January,  1863,  he  entered  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary, at  Columbia,  S.  C.  After  completing  his  studies 
he  was  settled  at  luifala,  Ala.,  pursuing  a  quiet,  ear- 
nest life,  devoted  to  study,  and  the  preaching  of  the 
(losi)cl.  In  the  summer  of  1865,  he  returned  to  Bos- 
ton, but  finding  no  opportunity  then  for  a  settlement 
here,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Circular  Congregational  Church,  of  Charleston,  S.  C, 
where  he  remained  twelve  years. 

In  1S77  he  published  "  The  Seven. Words  from  the 
Cross,"  a  work  of  great  tenderness  and  merit. 

In  1878  he  resigned  his  charge  and  came  North  to 
be  near  his  father,  whose  failing  health  was  the  occa- 
sion of  grave  anxiety. 

The  previous  year,  Dr.  Adams  had  listened  to  the 
public  ministration  of  his  son,  at  the  Central  Church, 
for  the  first  time  in  Boston,  with  one  exception  at  the 
old  South.  His  fatherly  tribute  to  him  was,  "I  know 
of  no  minister  with  whom  I  should  so  much  like  to 
change  i)laces."  At  this  time,  a  devoted  parishioner 
remarked  to  him,  "Why,  Doctor,  he  goes  beyond 
your  During  an  engagement  with  the  Vine  Street 
Church,  in  Roxbury,  the  privilege  of  listening  to  his 
son  was  further  enjoyed  by  Dr.  Adams  who  was, 
however,  so  feeble  as  to  require  to  be  supported  by 
Hlial  arms  and  placed  in  a  comfortable  position  in  the 
Pastor's  room,  where  he  could  see  and  listen  unob- 
served. 

Before  coming  to  Lexington,  IMr.  Adams  supplied 
the  pulpit  of  Middleborough,  in  this  State,  for  several 
months. 


When  I  was  about  leaving  home  for  England,  at 
the  close  of  the  Summer  of  1878,  the  request  was 
quite  generally  expressed  that  Mr.  Adams  tnight  be 
secured  to  take  my  place;  and  the  committee  of  sup- 
ply consequently  corresponded  with  him  upon  the 
subject.  He  was  not  a  stranger  to  you.  Twice  he 
had  preached  here  during  my  vacations — once  on  the 
great  Centennial  July  Sunday,  in  1876,  when  the  pul- 
pit was  covered  with  the  American  flag,  and  the  special 
patriotic  significance  was  given  to  all  the  services. 

Of  the  character  of  his  ministry  during  his  year 
with  you  I  need  not  now  speak.  You  have  already, 
at  the  last  two  weekly  meetings  of  the  Church,  given 
full  and  generous  expression  of  your  appreciation  of 
his  sterling  worth  and  faithful  service. 

The  resolutions  which  you  have  officially  adopted 
and  sent  to  the  bereaved  family  set  forth,  in  brief,  but 
sincere  terms,  our  deep  sorrow  and  heartfelt  sympa- 
thy. You  all  know  how  earnestly  he  laboured  while ^ 
he  was  with  you,  how  ably  he  presented  the  great 
doctrinal  truths  of  the  Gospel,  and  how  affectionately 
he  illustrated  and  appled  them.  I  can  distinctly  trace 
the  result  of  his  years  work  in  the  quickened  activity 
of  some  of  our  brethren  in  the  new-born  hopes  that 
have  been  cherished  in  the  hearts  of  young  believers, 
in  the  increased  religious  susceptibility  of  many,  and 
in  the  respect  felt  by  all  for  the  faithfulness  and  sin- 
cerity with  which  he  prosecuted  his  arduous  under- 
taking. It  was  not  a  year  of  rest  to  him.  Far  from 
it.  He  told  me  that  he  never  worked  so  hard  in  his 
life  before  ;  and  he  urged  me,  on  my  return,  to  reduce 
the  number  of  engagements,  especially  on  the  Lord's 
Day,  or  else  admit  the  brethren  of  the  Church  to  a 
more  responsible  share  in  the  conduct  of  the  services. 


17 


He  felt  also  the  burden  of  our  mission  work  at  Bur- 
lington, although  he  conscientiously  carried  out  my 
plan  of  holding  a  religious  meeting  there  every 
Wednesday  night  for  the  benefit  of  the  faiiiilies  that 
live  at  a  distance  from  anyplace  of  worship. 

Yet,  with  all  the  demands  upon  his  time,  and 
strength,  he  often  said  he  had  never  spent  a  happier 
year  since  he  entered  the  ministry.  He  spoke  of  the 
people  here  as  the  "  beautiful  flock,"  which  he  de- 
lighted to  lead  in  the  ways  of  righteousness.  He 
appreciated  the  harmony  of  sentiment  that  he  found 
here,  and  the  cordial  feeling  of  attachment  to  the 
Church  that  prevailed  amongst  all  the  members.  It 
will  ever  be  a  genuine,  though  now  a  saddened  pleas- 
ure to  us,  to  remember  that  this  lamented  servant  of 
God  gave  us  tlie  last  )'ear  of  his  ministerial  labors  to 
Lexington.  I  hope,  ere  long,  to  be  permitted  to  read 
some  of  those  excellent  sermons  of  his,  of  which  I 
have  heard  you  speak  with  such  approval.  There 
have  been  two  occasions,  since  my  return,  when  he 
preached  here,  by  your  request.  One  was  on  the 
closing  night  of  tlie  old  year,  when  a  few  of  us  gath- 
ered in  a  driving  snow-storm,  and  felt  amply  repaid 
by  his  devout  utterances  concerning  God,  as  our  Ref- 
uge. The  other  was  on  the  last  Sunday  of  his  stay 
with  us,  March  28,  (Easter  Sunday),  when  he  preached 
with  unusual  power  and  pathos  from  Luke  xxiv.  32, 
"And  they  said  one  to  another.  Did  not  our  hearts 
burn  within  us  while  He  talked  with  us  by  the  way, 
and  while  he  opened  to  us  the  Scriptures  ?"  We  can 
now  make  that  language  our  own  and  apply  it  to  him, 
grateful  for  the  companionship  that  brought  us  so 
near  to  the  Saviour  and  His  disciples  in  oiu-  contem- 
plation  of  that   ever    memorable   walk    to    I'^mmaus. 


;<s 


After  takinn-  his  leave  of  the  friends  and  neighbors 
here,  Mr.  Adams  proceeded  with  his  family  to 
Charleston,  to  take  charge  of  the  church  upon  Sulli- 
van's Island,  where  he  had  formerly  spent  some  of 
his  summers.  He  foi:nd  a  cordial  welcome,  and 
began  to  make  arrangements  for  his  work.  Appa- 
rently, he  was  well  equipped  in  bodily  health  and 
vigor ;  and  no  one  of  my  acquaintance  gave  more 
promise  of  long  continued  activity  and  usefulness. 
But,  "  O  Lord,  I  know  that  the  wa}'  of  man  is  not 
in  himself;  it  is  not  in  man  that  walketh  to 
direct  his  steps."  After  arriving  at  his  cottage 
home  on  the  island,  our  brother  was  attacked  with 
jaundice,  which  afterwards  developed  symptoms  of 
t\'phoid.  On  Friday,  the  14th  inst.,  the  crisis  seemed 
to  have  been  passed,  and  he  again  relished  his  food 
and  talked  of  his  summer  plans  and  hopes. 

He  was  calm  and  happ)-,  singing  at  times  his  fa- 
vorite hymn,  "  My  God  the  spring  of  all  my  jo\'s," 
and  offering  his  evening  praj'er  with  his  wife  as  usual. 
The  devotional  habit  of  his  life  accompanied  him  to 
the  last.  The  blessed  Saviour  was  near  to  comfort 
and  support  him  as  the  hour  of  his  departure  drew 
near.  Though  he  slept  quietlx'  that  exening,  the 
summons  came  before  the  morning  watch.  His  last 
audible  words  were  "  Grace  and  Glory  !  Grace  and 
Glory  !  in  the  great  congregation — great  congrega- 
tion !"  And  so  peacefully  and  triumphantl}'  his  spirit 
winged  its  flight  to  the  throne  of  the  Most  High.  He 
left  the  dear  home  on  earth  which  had  been  sanctified 
by  grace  for  the  home  in  glory,  radiant  with  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Redeemer;  and  as  he  went,  yes,  before  he 
went,  he  seemed  to  have  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
heavenlv  host,    "  the  great  congregation,"  as  did  the 


39 


inspired  seer  of  Patmos,  who  wrote:  "  After  this  I 
beheld,  and  lo,  a  great  multitude  which  no  man  could 
number,  of  all  nations,  kindreds  and  people  and 
tongues,  stood  before  the  throne,  and  before  the  Lamb, 
clothed  with  white  robes,  and  palm  in  their  hands." 
Blessed  vision  !  Foretaste  of  the  glorious  reward 
given  to  believers  !  Who  would  not  be  willing  to 
exchange  this  scene  of  earthly  toil  and  conflict  for 
that  heavenly  "  rest  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of 
God?" 

Give  me  the  wings  of  faith  to  rise 

Within  the  veil,  and  see 
.The  Saints  above,  how  great  their  joys, 
How  bright  their  glories  be." 

The  mortal  remains  of  our  departed  brother  were 
the  next  day  conveyed  to  Charleston  by  special 
steamer,  and  placed  in  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Chrch,  where  the  funeral  services  were  attended 
on  Monday  by  a  large  number  of  the  friends  and 
formei'  parishioners  of  the  deceased. 

Kight  ministers  of  different  denominations  acted  as 
pall-bearers.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Brackett,  pastor  of  the 
Church,  and  an  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Adams,  de- 
livered the  Memorial  Address  with  great  tenderness 
and  depth  of  feeling.  Other  ministers  of  Charleston 
participated  in  the  service,  at  the  close  of  which  the 
sad  procession  wended  its  way  to  the  beautiful  Mag- 
nolia Cemetery,  in  the  suburbs, — ajipropriate  resting 
place  for  one  whose  ministry  had  chiefly  been  among 
the  people  who  are  there  to  await  the  resurrection  of 
the  just. 

'•  Brother,  though  from  yonder  sky 
Cometh  neither  voice  nor  cry. 
Yet  we  know  from  thee  to-day 
Every  pain  hath  passed  away. 


;40 

Not   for   ihee  shall  tears  be  given 
Child  of  God,  and  heir  of  Heaven  ; 
For  He  gave  the  sweet  release, 
Thine  the  Christian's  death  of  peace. 

Well  we  know  thy  living  faith 
Had    the  power  to  conquer  death  ; 
As  a  living  rose  may  bloom 
By  the  border  of  the  tomb. 

Brother,  in  that  solemn  trust, 
We  commend  thee,  dust  to  dust  ! 
In  that  faith  we  wait,  till  risen, 
Thou  shalt  meet  us  all  in  Heaven. 

While  we  weep  as  Jesus  wept, 
Thou  shalt  sleep  as  Jesus  slept  ; 
VVith  thy  Saviour  thou  shalt  rest, 
Crowned,  and  glorified,  and  blest  ! 


FROM  GRACE  TO    GLORY 


A  MEMORIAL  DISCOURSK,  PREACHED  IN  THE  SECOND 
PRESUVTEKIAN  CHURCH,  CHARLESTON,  S.  C,  SABBATH 
XICHT,  DECEMBER  12  111,  I  88o,  BY  THE  REV.  G.  R. 
BRACKETT,   D.    D. 


Ps.  Ixxxiv,  II.     He  will  give  grace  and  glory. 

"  The  upper  i^alleries  at  Vcisaille.s,'"  .says  a  travel- 
er, "  are  filled  with  portraits,  many  of  them  extreme- 
ly valuable  and  ancient.  These  are  the  likeness  of 
the  greatest  men  of  all  lands  and  ages,  drawn  bv  the 
ablest  artists.  Yet  most  visitors  wander  through  ihe 
roonis   with  little  or  nc^  interest."     l-5ut  a  great  change 


4r. 

was  observed  when  they  entered  the  hall  "  where  the 
men  and  women  are  not  inactive  portraits,  but  are  ac- 
tively engaged."  The  warrior  and  the  statesman,  who 
attracted  only  a  passing  notice  as  quiet  figures  on  the 
canvass,  are  here  represented  amid  the  stirring  scenes 
of  the  battle  field  and  the  Senate  Chamber. 

The  portrait,  which  our  unskillful  pen  has  attempted 
to  draw  for  your  contemplation  to-night,  belongs  to 
that  crowded  galleny  whose  walls  are  adorned  with 
the  likenesses  of  living  men,  and  active  scenes,  brave 
warriors  in  the  heat  of  battle,  and  laborious  workers 
in  the  busy  vineyard. 

The  real  value  and  significance  of  a  man's  life  is 
measured  by  the  amount  of  virtuous  and  holy  energy 
developed  and  expended  for  the  good  of  his  fellow 
men,  and  for  the  glory  of  God.  "  An  honest  man  "  is 
not  "the  noblest  work  of  God."  That  life  is  noblest, 
which  is  not  only  true  and  right,  but  which  is  most 
earnest  in  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness. 
When  a  conscientious  regard  for  truth  and  a  heroic 
fidelity  to  princi'ple  are  combined  with  moral  earnest- 
ness and  Christian  zeal,  the  humble.st  life  becomes 
noble  and  sublime.  Tlie  biographies  of  Harlan  Page 
and  Howard  will  be  read  with  fresh  interest  to  the 
end  of  time;  while  the  lives  of  men  distinguished  for 
genius  and  learning,  who  played  no  active  {)art  in  the 
open  field  of  duty  and  warfare,  will  excite  only  a  tran- 
sient notice.  The  true  symbol  of  such  a  life  is  not  the 
oak  that  braves  the  storm,  or  the  mountain  unmoved 
by  the  shock  of  the  elements  ;  but  the  rushing  river, 
that  spurns  every  impedimen'f,  dashes  on  in  its  bold 
career,  staying,  nor  slackening  in  all  its  course,  until 
it  i)ours  its  impetuous  torrent  into  the  bosom  of  the 
sea.     There  are  few  men,  who,  like  the   Amazon  and 


- 


42 


Mississippi  rivers,  traverse  a  whole  continent,  carry- 
ing the  commerce  of  a  nation,  bidding  towns  and 
cities  rise,  and  plenteous  harvests  wave  along  their 
banks.  But  whatever  may  be  the  volume  of  the  river, 
the  law  of  its  life,  is  the  same.  It  must  have  an  on- 
ward, ceaseless  flow,  struggling  for  a  deeper  bed,  and 
a  wider  channel,  and  hastening  with  increasing  rapidi- 
ty to  the  ocean. 

Such  was  the  noble  life  that  so  long  blessed  and 
gladdened  our  city  with  its  bounty  and  refreshment, 
which  so  latel}'  touched  the  happy  shores  and  min- 
gled with  the  Eternal  Sea. 

In  the  removal  of  our  lamented  Brother  Adams,  we 
feel  that  our  community  has  sustained  a  common  loss  ; 
and  we  are  doing  only  an  act  of  justice  to  the  memory 
of  a  common  benefactor,  when  we  meet  together  to 
contemplate  his  blameless  character  and  com- 
memorate his  life  and  labors. 

William  Hooper  Adams,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Nehemiah  and  Martha  Hooper  Adams,  was  born  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  January  8th,  183S. 

He  began  to  talk  at  fourteen  months,  and  had  a 
peculiar  fanc)-  for  hard  words,  articulating  them  more 
distinctly  than  easier  ones.  Some  picture  cards  of 
animals  were  giveh  him,  pasted  together  in  the  form 
of  a  book.  He  named  the  book  after  the  animal 
which  had  the  name  most  difficult  to  pronounce. 
"  He  would  also  imitate  sounds  and  parts  of  words, 
leading  me  to  think,"  said  his  mother,  "  that  if  he 
ever  became  a  student,  he  would  excel  in  the  lan- 
guages. It  continued  a  peculiarity  with  him  for 
years  to  catch  at  the  great  words  of  a  sentence,  when 
company  were  present,  and  he,  apparently  not  listen- 
ing, would  repeat  aloud  some  big  word  heard  in  con- 


h 


4.S 


versation,  unconsciously  as  it  were  to  himself  He 
had  a  read)'  and  retentive  memory,  and  his  knowl- 
edge of  Scripture  was  far  beyond  his  years.  One 
day,  he  was  with  his  father  at  the  carpenter's  bench  ; 
Willie  was  boring  a  hole  in  a  bit  of  shingle,  '  In  the 
grave  who  shall  give  thee  thanks,'  he  ejaculated,  and 
went  on  boring  away  as  if  he  had  not  said  a  word.  I 
had  read  stories  from  the  Bible  to  him,  and  the  chil- 
dren had  questions  asked  them  at  family  worship  ; 
but  these  advantages  do  not  entirely  account  for  his 
command  of  Scripture  language. 

He  was  very  sick  with  the  measles,  nearly  three 
months,  and,  of  his  own  accord,  in  the  worst  stage  of 
his  sickness,  instead  of  his  little  prayer,  lie  would 
substitute  the  text  from  which  his  father  preached 
at  liis  baptism  :  '  Therefore,  also,  have  I  lent  him  to 
the  Lord,"  adding  '  as  long  as  Willie  li\es,  he  shall  be 
the  Lord's.' 

He  was  much  interested,  at  the  early  age  of  six, 
in  committing  to  memor)'  the  W'estminster  Catechism. 
His  Sunday-school  lessons  were  always  perfect,  and 
he  was  always  ready  to  talk  on  religious  subjects. 
He  often  came  to  me,  and  asked  me  to  read  the  Bible 
and  pra\-  with  him.  Once,  he  whispered,  '  Mother, 
let  me  go  into  >'our  chamber  with  )'ou,  when  you 
read  your  Bible.'  The  passage  in  course  was,  '  He  is 
able  to  keep  that  which  I  haxe  committed  unto  him. 
against  that  day.'  His  prayer  was  affecting.  He 
gave  his  soul  to  Christ  to  keep  against  that  day.  and 
asked  the  Sa\  iour  that  he  might  remember,  if  he 
were  ever  sick,  or  when  he  came  to  die,  that  he  had 
committed  his  soul  to  Christ.' 

His  principal  faults  were,  quickness  of  temper, 
and   incessant   restlessness  ;    but   he   was  a   generous 


44 


boy,  and  gave  all  he  had,  at  one  time,  for  foreign 
missions. 

In  his  seventh  year,  he  wrote  in  his  first  letter, 
just  after  his  birth-day:  '  My  dear  mother:  1  hope 
that  you  will  pray  for  me,  that  I  may  be  one  of  Jesus' 
flock.'  When  eight  years  old,  he  confessed  a' false- 
hood told  about  the  loss  of  his  cap.  He  said  :  '  1 
could  not  sleep,  it  worried  me  so,  and  I  t^^'ought  I 
never  could  be  a  Christian  till  I  told  you  of  it;  and 
I  prayed  to  the  Lord  to  forgive  me,  and  to  help  me 
tell  you.  I  have  felt  all  day  like  Pilgrim  with  a  bur- 
den on  his  back.'  A  year  later,  on  his  father's  birth- 
day, he  wrote:  '  Dear  Father:  You  have  done  a  great 
many  things  to  make  me  happy,  and  I  am  going  to 
make  }'ou  happy  by  being  obedient.  Dear  father, 
with  your  love  to  me,  I  cannot  fail  to  grow  up  a  good 
man.'  A  few  months  after,  he  came  to  his  father  and 
said  :  '  I  hope  I  am  a  Christian.  This  morning,  I  felt 
I  was  a  great  sinner,  and  went  to  my  chamber  and 
asked  to  be  forgiven,  and  gave  myself  to  the  Lord.' 
He  incidentally  told  his  father,  that  when  he  gave 
himself  away  to  the  Lord,  he  sang  '  Jesus,  save  my 
dying  soul.'  " 

The  next  year  he  said  to  his  father  again,  "  I  do 
think  I  am  a  Christian.  I  believe  I  have  taken  the 
Lord  as  my  portion."  Shorth-  after  this,  he  had  an 
affecting  conversation  with  his  father,  and  then  fol- 
lowed him  in  prayer,  beginning,  "  My  sins  are  more 
in  number  than  the  sand  of  the  sea-shore."  After- 
wards, he  begged  his  sister  to  pray  with  him,  weep- 
ing freely,  and  saying,  "Oh,  Anna,  you  don't  know 
what  a  sinner  I  am  !" 

The  following  year  he  wrote  to  his  father,  "  I  have 
been  led  to  know  how  wicked    I    am,  and   that  Jesus 


45 

cleanseth  from  all  sin.  I  have  cast  my  burden  on  the 
Lord,  and  the  Saviour  seems  dear  to  me.  I  will  trust 
in  lliin  all  the  days  of  life.  He  is  a  good  Saviour. 
My  dear  father,  >ou  have  been  the  means  of  my 
lovin'^  the  Saviour.  You  heive  showed  me  the  way, 
and  I  have  followed  it.  Before.  I  did  not  know  what 
a  Saviour  was;  now,  I  see  Him  nailed  to  the  Cross, 
bleeding  and  dying  for  me.  If  I  live  to  grow  up,  I 
will  go  fir  and  wide  and  tell  the  poor  heathen  what  a 
Saviour  thou  art.  My  father,  the  Lord  has  taken  me 
up.  I  will  go  through  my  eleventh  year  with  the 
Saviour."  His  school  teacher  noticed  a  great  change 
in  him  after  this.  He  watches  for  opportunities  to  do 
good  to  others.  On  one  occasion  he  gave  a  tract  to 
one  of  his  schoolmates  and  induced  him  to  leave  off 
swearing.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  eleven 
years  old,  and  here  her  journal  closes. 

From  another  member  of  the  family  we  have  re- 
ceived the  following  statement: 

"  When  about  sixteen  years  old,  on  his  eldest  sis- 
ter's birthday,  and  under  her  influence,  he  had  a  re- 
li'TJous  experience,  which  he  always  referred  to  as  his 
conversion,  and  there  was  a  marked  change  in  him 
afterward.  Naturally  passionate  and  impatient,  he 
became  gentle  and  forbearing — a  wonderful  trans- 
formation. Considering  his  sensitive  and  impulsive 
nature,  and  the  religious  atmosphere  in  which  he 
lived,  his  early  religious  experience  may  seem  some- 
what morbid  and  unnatural.  But  we  cannot  doubt 
that  he  was  the  subject  of  Divine  influences,  and 
genuine  experiences,  although  his  last  experience  was 
of  a  more  independent  and  natural  character,  becom- 
iiig  his  maturer  years.' 

He  evidently  dated  his  conversion  from  this    expe- 


46 


ricnce,  as,  seven  years  later,  he  records  in  his  diarv  : 
"  This  is  the  seventh  anniversary  of  my  spiritual 
birth." 

"  He  was  very  popular  A\'ith  the  boys,  at  this  age; 
a  leader  in  the  sports,  with  power  to  command.  He 
was  courageous,  and  once  separated  two  boys  in  a 
street  fight,  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  spectators,  and 
received  the  commendation  of  a  gentleman  who  was 
passing  by.  He  was  a  ready  speaker,  of  great  cool- 
ness, and  assurance.  He  would  deliver  impromptu 
orations  in  circles  of  young  people." 

He  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  in  the 
Brimmer  School,  in  Boston,  and  was  prepared  for  col- 
lege in  the  Latin  school  of  that  city,  which  offered 
superior  advantages  for  a  thorough  academic  train- 
ing. The  bracing  atmosphere  of  this  noble  i-nstitu- 
tion  quickened  and  invio-orated  his  mental  faculties, 
and  it  was  under  this  inspiring  influence  that  he  felt  a 
literary  career  was  open  before  him. 

In  1856,  he  entered  Harvard  University,  Cambridge, 
Mass.  It  was  during  this  year  that  he  made  a  public 
profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ,  and  became  a  mem- 
ber of  Union  Church,  Essex  street,  Boston,  of  which 
his  honored  father  was  pastor  the  greater  part  of  his 
protracted  ministry.  The  type  of  piety  which  was  so 
characteristic  of  his  later  years,  was  strongly  mani- 
fested at  the  begining  of  his  religious  life-communion 
with  God,  Christian  fellowship,  and  earnest,  practical 
work.  He  was  a  zealous  member  of  the  "  Society  of 
Christian  Brethren,"  and  for  some  time  its  President. 
He  also  availed  himself  of  the  exegetical  and  reli- 
gious instructions  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Albro,  an  eminent 
and  devout  Cambridge  pastor,  who  invited  the  stu- 
dents of  the  University  to  join    his   Greek   Testament 


47 


class,  which  met  weekly  at  his  residence.  It  was, 
doubtless,  under  the  guidance  of  this  able  Biblical 
scholar,  that  our  young  brother  imbibed  a  taste  for 
those  critical  studies  for  which  he  afterwards  evinced 
a  hearty  relish  and  enthusiasm. 

In  i860  he  completed  his  University  course,  and 
was  honorably  graduated.  He  had  cliosen  the  minis- 
try for  his  profession,  and  in  the  Fall  of  i860,  he 
entered  the  Theological  Seminary,  at  Andover,  Mass. 
He  had  been  a  member  of  this  institution  but  a  few 
months,  when  lie  was  advised  by  his  father  to  accept 
the  position  of  a  private  tutor  in  a  famii}-  in  Georgia, 
believing  that  a  change  of  climate,  and  the  expe- 
rience of  teaching  would  prove  a  benefit  to  him. 

Although  the  political  atmosphere  at  that  time  was 
dark  and  threatening,  yet  there  were  few.  if  any,  who 
anticipated  actual  hostilities,  and  a  prolonged  war. 

Cut  off  from  all  hope  of  return  to  his  kindred,  he 
cheerfully  accepted  the  will  of  Providence,  and  con- 
tinued teaching,  and  also  preached  the  Gospel  as  he 
had  0[)portunity,  supplying  the  vacant  pulpits  of  several 
churches  whose  pastors  were  serving  as  chaplains  in 
the  army. 

In  January,  1861,  he  entered  the  Theological  Sem- 
inary, at  Columbia,  S.  C,  a  Presbyterian  institution. 
It  was  here  that  we  first  met.  Residing  near  Colum- 
bia, several  months  after  completing  my  studies.  I 
was  brought  into  frequent  and  pleasant  intercourse 
with  him.  The  homes  of  our  childhood  were  but  a 
(vw  miles  apart,  and  mutual  friendship  and  local  asso- 
ciations, dear  to  us  both,  formed  a  bond  of  sympathy 
which  was  strengthened  and  hallowed  by  Christian 
love.  His  warm  and  genial  nature,  his  sincere  and 
earnest  piet}',  his  noble  and  manly  bearing  soon  won 


48 


the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  brethren.  We  know- 
not  a  single  instance  in  which  this  confidence  was 
shaken,  or  this  esteem  cooled  by  sectional  suspicion 
or  prejudice. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel,  September 
27th,  1862,  at  Greensboro',  Ga.,  by  the  'Presbytery  of 
Hopewell,  of  which  the  Rev.  James  Woodrow,  D.  D,, 
was  Moderator.  In  November  2 1st,  1863,  he  was  or- 
dained as  an  Evangelist  of  the  same  Presbytery,  at  its 
adjourned  meeting  during  the  Synod  of  Georgia,  con- 
vened at  Athens,  Sunday  afternoon,  Rev.  David  Wills, 
D.  D.,  being  the  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery.  The 
sermon  from  P^ph.  iii.  19,  was  preached  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Joseph  R.  Wilson,  of  Augusta,  and  the  charge  to 
the  pastor  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  A.  D.  Mont- 
gomery. 

Referring  to  his  ordination,  Mr.  Adams  wrote  in 
his  diary  :  "  This  was,  without  exception,  the  most 
awfully  solemn  moment  of  my  life— never,  never  to  be 
forgotten.  1  devoted  my  all  to  the  service  of  my 
glorious  Redeemer  in  solemn  covenant,  while  the 
hands  of  Presbytery  were  still  on  my  liead  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Leighton  Wilson  said  to  me,  that  though  not  a 
member  of  the  Presbytery,  he  had  laid  his  hand  on 
my  head  for  my  father's  sake.  This  deeply  touched 
me,  and  now  1  am  in  the  ministry  of  reconciliation,  an 
embassador  of  Christ.  How  joyful  I  am  that  I  am  so 
young,  only  twenty- five — a  life-time  to  spend  in  the 
Master's  service.  O,  that  I  may  be  spared  many 
years  to  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ." 

Immediately  after  his  ordination  he  ministered,  as 
an  t^vangelist,  to  the  churches  of  Danielsville,  Sandy 
Creek,  and  to  the  people  of  Paolia  and  Beth  Haven, 
Georgia. 


49       • 

Mr.  Adams  began  his  ministry  at  Eufaula,  Ala.. 
November  15th.  1865,  where  he  labored  with  i,^reat 
fidelity  and  acceptance.  This  "dear  people,"  to 
whom  he  often  affectionately  referred,  he  served  one 
vear.  X'isiting  his  Hither  in  the  summer  of  1866,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  remain  with  him  and,  con.sc- 
quently,  resigned  his  ch.arge.  and  never  returned.  A 
member  of  that  church  writes,  that'  "  he  was  greatly 
beloved  by  his  own  people  and  highly  respected  for 
his  urbanity,  courtesy,  humble  piety  and  high  Chris- 
tian character  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  pat- 
tern of  modesty  and  Christian  deportment,  an  earnest 
worker  for  Christ,  an  acceptable  minister  and  pastor. 
We  regretted  very  greatly  the  necessity  of  parting 
with  him." 

During  his  ministry  at  Kufaula  he  was  married, 
October  3d,  1866,  to  Miss  Pauline  Thomas,  daughter 
of  Judge  Thomas,  a  well  known  and  highly  respected 
citizen  of  Athens,  Ga.  Miss  Thomas  was  a  young 
lady  of  rare  intellectual  gifts  and  literary  culture,  an 
accomplished  musician,  and  of  fine  poetic  sensibility. 
"  Her  chief  attraction  was  her  fervent  piety,  .spirituali- 
ty of  mind,  entire  con.secration  to  Chri.st,  and  hearty 
sympathy  with  her  hu.sband  in  his  .saered  calling." 
But  an  incurable  di.sease  was  already  forging  chains 
for  her  disciplined  and  con.secrated  powers  that  un- 
fitted her  for  active  Christian  work.  The  imprisoned 
spirit,  however,  lost  none  of  its  native  vigor,  as  the 
caged  bird  with  clipped  wings  retains  the  gift  of  song; 
and  her  suffering  life  only  furnished  an  occasion  for 
the  exercise  of  her  husband's  tender  sympathy  and 
unwearied  devotion,  that  only  she  could  appreciate, 
and  Heaven  reward.  It  was  the  wonder  and  admira- 
tion of  us  all.     The  cloud  that  shadowed  their  home, 


50 


so  dark  to  us,  reflected  to  them  the  charmed  light  of 
poetry  and  romance,  brightened  with  the  glory  of  the 
Cross.  • 

The  remainder  of  his  ministerial  life,  covering  a 
period  of  twelve  years,  was  spent  in  Charleston,  S.  C. 
He  came  to  this  city  February  20th,  1867.  Two  in- 
vitations to  preach  awaited  him  from  Dr.  Smyth  and 
Dr.  Dana.  The  former  being  prior  in  time  was  ac- 
cepted, and  he  preached  his  first  sermon  in  Charleston, 
in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  from  the  text : 
"  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock."  It  will  be 
numbered  among  the  precious  memories  of  this  church 
that  his  last  sermon,  also,  was  preached  in  this  pulpit. 

The  following  Sabbath,  February  10th,  he  dedicated 
the  Lecture  Room  of  the  Circular  Church,  which  was 
just  completed.  He  preached  to  a  full  house  from 
the  text  :  "  For  without  me  ye  can  do  nothing."  In 
the  evening  his  text  was  :  "  I  tell  you  nay,  but  ex- 
cept ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish."  These 
first  sermons  were  appropriate  preludes  of  the  lessons 
of  instruction  and  warning  which  characterised  his 
subsequent  ministry.  He  gratefully  records,  "  The 
Lord  blessed  these  efforts,  giving  me  exceeding 
strength  and  .grace.  The  congregations  were  large 
and  solemn." 

To  this  little  flock  he  devoted  the  best  years  of  his 
life,  the  strength  of  his  manhood,  and  the  fruit  of  his 
laborious  studies.  It  was  his  cherished  hope,  bright- 
ening with  the  rolling  years,  that  he  might  rebuild 
the  Church,  which  for  so  long  a  period  had  been  a 
beautiful  ruin.  What  precious  and  hallowed  associa- 
tions cluster  around  these  dilapidated  walls,  like  the 
luxuriant  vines  that  cover  them,  whose  leaves  are 
ever   fresh,  and   ever  green.     The  inuses  of  history 


51 

and  poetry  seemed  to  him  to  guard  the  ancient  ruin 
as  a  monumental  record,  to  arrest  the  curious  eye  of 
the  traveller,  and  as  a  sacred  lyric,  to  be  translated 
into  immortal  verse.  But  the  voice  of  religion  spoke 
with  a  higher  authority,  and  with  a  more  irresistible 
appeal.  He  could  not  rest  while  the  house  of  God 
was  lying  waste  and  there  was  a  reasonable  prospect 
of  rebuilding  the  walls.  A  beautiful  and  commodious 
house  of  worship,  centrally  located  and  "pointing  its 
>pire  of  faith  to  heaven,"  would  be  an  ornament  to  the 
city  and  a  blessing  to  the  community.  It  might  be 
called  the  "  Church  of  the  Strangers."  It  w'ould  fur- 
nish a  refuge  for  many  wandering  souls  not  identified 
with  an\-  church,  and  a  Sabbath  resort  for  Congrega- 
tionalist  who  visit  our  city  and  are  seeking  a  church 
of  their  own  order.  But  the  star  of  hope  that  lured 
him  on  was  suddenly  quenched,  and  the  cherished  en- 
terprise to  which  he  had  devoted  twelve  years  of  his 
life,  vanishetl  like  a  beautiful  dream.  From  this  mo- 
ment his  early  resignation  was  a  foregone  conclusion. 
Among  the  events  which  combined  to  hasten  this 
inevitable  step  was  the  failing  health  of  his  venerable 
father,  which  required  the  personal  presence  of  his 
son  to  minister  to  him  in  his  enfeebled  condition, 
to  aid  him  in  settling  his  temporal  affairs,  and  to 
confer  with  him  respecting  his  posthumous  publica- 
tions. 

We  have  often  marvelled  that  a  minister  of  Mr. 
Adams'  ability,  scholarship  and  learning,  could  be 
contented  for  so  many  years  to  circumscribe  the 
sphere  of  his  usefulness,  when  larger  and  more  im 
portant  fields  of  labor  were  open  to  him  where  his 
talents  and  accomplishments  would  have  found  full 
scope.      It  is  difficult  for   us   to    measure  the  sacrifice 


52 


that  he  made  to  achieve  the  life-work  to  which  he 
beh'eved  God  had  clearlj/^  called  him  in  this  city. 

During-  the  absence  from  his  church  in  1877,  to  be 
near  his  father  during  his  remaining  days,  he  was  la- 
boriously engaged  in  ministerial  and  literary  work. 
He  prepared  for  publication  his  "  Seven  Words  from 
the  Cross,"  which  has  been  criticised  as  a  "  work  of 
great  tenderness  and  merit."  At  the  same  time  he 
supplied  the  vacant  [uilpit  of  Vine  Street  Church, 
Roxbury,  Mass.,  near  his  father's  home.  His  minis- 
trations to  this  people  were  acceptable  and  edifying. 
It  was  my  privilege  to  preach  in  this  pulpit  one  Sab- 
bath during  his  absence,  and  to  hear  many  kind  ex- 
pressions of  their  appreciation  of  his  services.  It  was 
an  unspeakable  satisfaction  to  his  father  that  he  was 
permitted  before  his  departure  to  listen  to  the  preach- 
ing of  his  son  during  these  months,  and  all  hearts 
were  deeply  moved  at  the  touching  spectacle  of  the 
aged  patriarch  entering  the  sanctuary  supported  by 
the  son  of  promise  upon  wiiom  his  mantle  was  so 
soon  to  fall. 

During  the  summer  of  1877,  he  supplied  the 
church  of  Middleboro',  Mass.,  and  afterwards,  the 
Hancock  Church,  of  Lexington,  Mass.,  during  the 
absence  of  its  esteemed  pastor,  Dr.  Porter,  in  Europe. 

The  character  of  his  ministry  during  this  year  is 
sufficiently  indicated  in  tiie  resolutions  officially 
adopted  by  the  church.  In  the  language  of  Dr.  Por- 
ter in  his  touching  memorial  discourse;  "yon  all 
know  how  earnestly  he  labored  while  he  was  with 
you,  how  ably  he  preached  the  great  doctrinal  truths 
of  the  Gospel,  and  how  effectively  he  illustrated  and 
applied  them.  I  can  distinctly  trace  the  result  of 
his  year's  work  in  the   quickened   activity  of  some  of 


53 

our  brethren,  in  the  now-born  hopes  that  have  been 
cherished  in  the  hearts  of  young  believers,  in  the  in- 
creased rch'o-ious  susceptibility  of  many,  and  in  the 
respect  felt  by  all  for  the  faithfulness  and  sincerity 
with  which  he  prosecuted  his  arduous  undertaking. 
It  was  not  a  year  of  rest  to  him,  far  from  it.  He  told 
me  that  he  never  worked  so  hard  in  his  life  before." 

While  he  was  engaged  in  these  laborious  duties, 
preaching  twice  on  the  Sabbath,  conducting  •  the 
prayer-meeting,  and  holding  a  weekly  service  in  fhe 
country,  at  a  mission  station,  and  performing  daily 
pastoral  ministrations,  he  was,  likewise,  preparing 
for  the  press  a  volume  of  "  Walks  to  Emmaus,"  the 
first  of  a  series  which  he  was  selecting  from  his 
father's  manuscript  sermons. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  literary  work,  he  had  pro- 
cured a  type-writer,  which  he  had  learned  to  use  with 
crreat  facility.  He  had  also  commenced  the  Biogra- 
phy of  his  lamented  father,  a  labor  of  love  upon 
which  he  entered  with  all  the  zeal  of  filial  devotion, 
and  was  expending  his  best  energies. 

In  March,  1880,  he  was  invited  to  supply  the 
Union  Central  Church,  on  Sullivan's  Island,  near 
Charleston,  S.  C,  where  he  owned  a  summer  resi- 
dence, and  to  this  cottage  home  he  now  removed  his 
family  and  was  making  arrangements  for  his  work. 
He  was  most  cordially  welcomed  back  to  Charleston, 
and  there  was  geneial  rejoicing  that  he  was  again  to 
gladden  us  by  his  genial  presence,  and  earnest  mmis- 
try.  He  was  invited  to  preach  in  one  of  the  city  pul- 
pits the  first  Sabbath  after  his  arrival. 

The  circumstances  of  his  brief,  but  painful  illness, 
and  of  his  peaceful,  triumphant  death,  have  already 
been  detailed  in    the   published  address   delivered  at 


54 


his  funeral.  Ministers  of  every  denomination — 
Methodist.  Baptist,  Episcopal,  Lutheran.  Unitarian, 
and  a  Jewish  Rabbi,  acted  as  pall-bearers.  The  fune- 
ral services  were  held  in  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church.  More  than  a  thousand  people,  of  all  creeds 
and  classes,  crowded  the  galleries  and  pews  of  this 
spacious  church,  and  mingled  their  tears  in  the  ex- 
piession  of  a  common  sorrow.  The  children  of  the 
Orphan  House,  to  ^^'hom  he  often  preached  in  their 
chapel  services,  brought  their  floral  offerings  to  lay 
upon  his  grave. 

Mr.  Adams  was  a  geneial  favorite  with  the  colored 
people,  in  whom  he  had  always  manifested  a  kind, 
considerate  interest,  and  they  were  largely  represented 
on  this  mournful  occasion,  and  their  expressions  of 
love  and  grief  deeply  affecting.  This  universal  mani- 
festation of  mourning,  was  a  splendid  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  the  beloved  and  honored  dead,  and  an 
eloquent  testimony  to  the  respect  and  esteem  in  which 
the  deceased  was  held.  A  thousand  loving  and  sor- 
rowing hearts  are  pledged  to  keep  his  memory  green. 
He  sleeps  peacefully  in  the  Magnolia  Cemetery,  near 
the  "  City  by  the  Sea,"  where  he  had  passed  the 
greater  part  of  his  active  ministry. and  near  the  beloved 
people  to  whom  he  ministered,  many  of  whom  rest 
by  his  side. 

To  us  short-sighted  mortals,  it  seems  a  mysterious 
providence  that  he  should  be  suddenly  cut  down  in 
the  warm,  bright  summer  of  his  years;  in  the  very 
efflorescence  of  his  powers  and  accomplishments, 
teeming  with  life,  and  full  of  plans  and  projects  just 
bursting  into  blossom  ;  and  feeling  that  all  his  pre\'i- 
ous  stud)',  labor,  and  suffering  were  but  a  preparation 
for  a  loner  and  useful  life. 


55 


He  longed  to  live,  not  only  to  preach  the  Gospel,  to 
piiblisii  the  results  of  his  own  special  studies,  but  also 
to  tlischar^e  the  filial  trust  which  had  been  committed 
to  him  of  writing  his  father's  biogiaphy,  and  editing 
his  p'osthimious  works.  But,  doubtless,  all  mystery 
will  instantly  vanish  in  the  light  of  Heaven,  when  we 
shall  see  clearly  the  relation  of  our  earthly  labors  and 
sufferings  to  the  future  life.  We  may  then  learn  that 
Isaac  Taylor  was  indulging  in  no  vain  speculation, 
when  he  affirms  his' belief,  that  "the  same  qualities 
which  are  here  so  sedulously  fashioned  and  finished, 
will  be  actually  needed  and  used  in  that  future  world 
of  perfection  ;  and,  therefore,  the  removal  of  individ- 
uals in  the  vcrv  prime  of  their  fitness  for  useful  labor, 
ceases  to  be  impenetrably  mysterious."  The  fitness 
for  earthly  labors  may  proi^e  to  be  a  fitness  for  the 
service  of  Heaven.  As  we  are  not  permitted  to  view 
the  life  of  our  lamented  brother  from  the  Heavenly 
heights,  where  the  hori7.>)n  widens  into  eternity,  let  us 
make  the  most  of  our  earthly  point  of  observation,  as 
we  stand  on  the  little  hillocks  of  time,  and  contem- 
plate his  character  and  labors. 

Mr.  Adams  had  the  advantage  of  a  prepossessing 
personal  appearance;  of  medium  stature,  he  had  a 
stout,  portly  frame  that  betokened  a  greater  fullness 
of  health  and  strength  than  he  actually  possessed. 
His  handsome,  regular  features,  his  round,  ruddy 
face,  the  very  index  of  a  large,  generous  soul  —  now 
flashing  with  humor,  and  now  kindling  with  smiles — 
will  live  forever  in  tlic  memory  of  his  friends,  a  pic- 
ture that  time  will  never  fade.  His  habitual  expression 
bespoke  a  cheerful,  buoyant  spirit.  Trouble  and  sor- 
row, of  which  he  hao  his  full  share,  onl)-  momenta- 
ril}^   saddened   liis   countenance,  like   clouds    moving 


56 


across  the  face  of  the  sun.  Coldness  and  indifference 
might  suddenly  chill  his  features  into  an  icy  expres- 
sion, but  the  warm  heart  within  ever  melted  it  away, 
and  his  face  resumed  its  wonted  brightness.  He  held 
it  as  a  Christian  duty  to  ''avoid  the  appearance"  of 
gloom,  and  to  put  on  a  cheerful  courage.  The  dark- 
est night  of  adversity  is  starlit  with  love;  so,  he 
thought ;  if  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  the 
heart,  it  ought  to  shine  through  the  darkest  experi- 
ences. 

As  a  preacher,  he  "  determined  to  know  nothing 
but  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified,"  in  the  compre- 
hensive sense  of  the  apostle's  resolution.  The  Cross 
was  the  radiant  centre  of  all  his  discourses.  His 
elegant  and  scholarly  tastes  naturally  moulded  his 
thoughts  into  rhetorical  forms,  and  chaste,  graceful 
diction;  but  his  "excellency  of  speech,"  and  "en- 
ticing words  "  were  throbbing  with  the  life-blood  of  the 
Gospel.  He  had  a  natural  abhorrence  of  dry, abstract, 
theological  discussion,  )-et  his  sermons  were  full  of 
the  marrow  of  Christian  doctrine. 

Whenever  lie  touched  upon  the  doctrines  of  de- 
pravit}^  regeneration,  atonement,  and  eternal  retribu- 
tion, his  trumpet  uttered  no  uncertain  soiuid.  He 
had  a  deep  and  tender  sympathy  for  the  \\-eaknesscs 
oud  errors  of  men  arising  from  natural  infirmity  and 
educational  bias ;  but  he  was  never  known  to  do 
\'iolence  to  the  prejudices  of  his  hearers,  or  ridicule 
their  cherished  beliefs.  Ife  never  uttered  the  lan- 
guage of  denunciation.  In  this  he  may  have  erred, 
Sut  he  was  always  sure  to  err  on  the  side  of  love. 
He  preached  the  terrors  of  the  law  and  the  wrath  of 
God  with  tenderness  and  tears.  His  chosen  model 
was  the  apostle  John,  rather  than   the  apostle   Paul, 


J 


57 


and,  like  the  beloved  disciple,  he  made  Jesus  and  his 
love  his  all  absorbiii<(  theme,  but  delivered  his  mes- 
sage of  \v.u'iiin<:^  to  thoutrhtless  and  worldly-minded 
unbelief,  with  all  tiie  fidelity  of  the  "Son  of  Thun- 
der." We  may  apply  to  him  the  language  used  in  a 
criticism  of  his  father's  works,  wiioiii  he  is  said  to 
have  "resembled  so  much  in  mind  and  heart:"  "The 
peculiar  charm  of  Dr.  Adams'  writings  is,  that  thej^ 
reflect  so  much  of  the  image  of  the  living,  personal 
Saviour.  He  never  deals  in  dry  formulas,  or  ab- 
stract propositions.  He  does  not  undervalue  them  as 
expedients  for  discriminating  truth  from  error,  or  as 
repositories  for  the  preservation  of  acquired  knowl- 
edge. But  he  is  endowed  with  the  pure  gift  of 
touching  the  heart's  deepest  and  tenderest  emotions, 
and  of  introducing  a  personal  Saviour,  warm  with 
human  sympathy,  into  personal  intercourse  with  the 
soul  that  is  yearning  for  divine  fellowship." 

His  sermons  were  thoroughl}'  scriptural.  He  found 
no  room  for  the  discussion  of  secular  themes,  for 
social  and  political  questions,  and  current  events.  He 
believed  in  the  inspiration  of  the  whole  Bible,  and, 
during  his  twel\-e  )-ears  ministry  here,  he  .traversed, 
in  his  Sabbath  and  weekly  services,  the  Old  and  New 
Testament  from  Genesis  to  Revelations,  inclusive.  He 
was  a  diligent  student  of  God's  Word.  Making  a 
specialt}'  of  philological  and  exegetical  studies,  he 
aimed  to  subject  the  sacred  text  to  a  thorough  critical 
anal}'sis.  Believing  that  the  average  mind  appre- 
hended truth  most  readily  in  concrete  forms,  his  ser- 
mons aud  addresses  abounded  in  metaphorical  lan- 
guage and  apt  illustrations.  For  this  purpose  he  kept 
his  library  well  supplied  with  the  latest  cyclopedias 
and  books,    illustrating    Scripture    truth  from   nature. 


58 


He  also  kept  a  commonplace  book,  in  which  he  treas- 
ured up  elegant  and  instructiv^e  extracts,  that  he 
might  enricli  his  sermons  with  the  best  thoughts  of 
the  best  authors.  He  was,  indeed,  "  a  workman  that 
needed  not  to  be  ashamed,  thorougly  furnished  unto 
good  works,  rightly  dividing  the  Word  of  Life,  giving 
to  each  a  portion  in  due  season."  The  weekly  re- 
sults of  such  abundant  and  exhaustive  labors  must 
have  been  interesting,  instructive,  and  edifying. 

As  a  pastor,  Mr.  Adams  will  be  remembered  with 
peculiar  affection.  He  made  it  his  first  care  to  be- 
come thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  his  flock,  to 
know  their  exact  temporal  and  spiritual  condition.  He 
was  interested  in  everything  that  interested  them.  He 
was  no  respecter  of  persons  on  account  of  age, 
condition  or  color.  Like  his  Master,  he  felt  that  his 
first  duty  was  to  those  who  needed  him  most.  When 
laboring  as  an  Evangelist  among  a  poor,  uncultivated 
people,  a  friend  writes:  "  He  endeared  himself  to  them 
by  his  thoughtful  attention  to  their  temporal  as  well 
as  their  spiritual  wants  ;  by  his  read}'  sympathy  and 
ingenious  suggestions,  in  times  of  privation  and  trial. 
Among  this  simple,  affectionate,  good  people,  his 
memory  is  cherished  with  tenderest  devotion.  Often 
in  their  visits  to  the  city  for  trading  purposes,  they 
come  to  ask  me  about  their  "  little  preacher,"  alvva}'s 
expressing  the  greatest  love  and  gratitude  to  him. 
His  heart  was  tenderly  moved  towards  the  children  of 
the  poor.  I  have  often  been  amused  at  the  familiar 
and  affectionate  greetings  in  the  streets  between  the 
bare-footed  boys  and  himself" 

No  church  in  this  city,  since  the  war,  retained  so 
many  colored  members.  Their  strong  attachment  to 
the  pastor   of  the    Circular    Church    doubtless   arose 


59 


from  tliis  personal  and  tender  interest  shown  to  them 
indiviciually.  I  liave  frequently  been  stopped  in  the 
street  b}'  his  colored  friends,  who  have  spoken  of  their 
attachment  to  him  in  the  warmest  terms,  and  of  his 
personal  love  and  care  for  them. 

As  a  pastor,  Mr.  Adams  was  the  confidante  of  his 
people,  to  whom  they  could  entrust  the  most  sacred 
secret  of  the  household.  They  opened  their  hearts  to 
him,  because  his  own  heart  was  always  wide  open  to 
them.  His  smiling  face,  his  cordial  giasp  of  the  hand, 
his  cheerful  words  and  .sympathetic  manner  made  you 
feel  that  you  had  in  him  a  warm,  sympathizing  friend, 
whom  you  could  take  into  your  confidence,  and  to 
whom  }'ou  could  unbosom  all  your  griefs.  His  prayers 
at  the  family  altar  and  at  the  sick  bed  will  be  treasured 
as  among  the  most  precious  memories  of  his  people. 

His  love  for  children  was  one  of  his  most  interest- 
ing traits.  He  could  hardly  pass  them  in  the  street 
without  taking  them  in  his  arms  and  blessing  them. 
He  was  tenderly  devoted  to  the  lambs  of  his  .flock, 
and  could  call  tliem  by  natne.  He  never  failed  to  recog- 
nize them  on  all  occasions,  and  to  have  a  pleasant 
word  for  them.  "  He  was  a  child  among  children," 
and  drew  them  to  himself,  thus  securing  their  confi- 
dence. One  who  knew  him  intimately  writes:  "  His 
love  for  children  was  as  marked  a  peculiarity  as  his 
filial  devotion.  With  children  in  their  merry  sports 
he  was  a  child  again,  and  his  rippling  laughter  was 
merriest  and  loudest  of  all.  Still  he  was  ever  watch- 
ful for  any  incident  which  he  could  tui  n  to  account, 
and  drop  a  word  in  season  of  spiritual  profit.  The 
children  loved  him  e\-erywhere,  and  I  h^ve  thought 
that  the  good  seed  sown  in  Sunda)'  Schools  will 
probably  yield  him  his  richest  harvest." 


Go 


Our  portraiture  of  Mr.  Adams  would  be  incom- 
plete without  a  passing  reference  to  his  domestic 
character.  His  ideal  home  was  an  abode  of  gladness, 
where  nothing  should  intrude  to  mar  its  peace  and 
harmony.  We  have  already  spoken  of  the  shadow 
■that  rested  upon  his  hearth,  while  he  hovered  like  an 
angelic  presence  above  his  invalid  wife.  Rut  his 
genial  and  mirthful  temperament  glowed  like  a  per- 
petual fire,  and  the  chamber  of  sickness  was  never 
dark  or  gloomy.  His  assiduous  care  for  the  comfort 
and  happiness  of  those  who  shared  his  hospitalit)-, 
his  thoughtful  sympathy  for  the  poor,  the  ignorant 
and  lonely,  illustrated  tlie  Gospel  conception  of  genu- 
ine Christian  courtesy  and  politeness.  If  he  erred,  it 
was  in  an  overweening  desire  to  please  all,  to  make 
every  one  feel  happy  who  came  within  the  sphere  of 
his  influence.  In  June,  1876,  his  suffering  com- 
panion was  called  to  her  heavenly  rest.  We  all  know 
the  calm  resignation,  the  brave  and  manly  spirit  with 
which  he  bore  this  great  sorrow,  and  the  subsequent 
trials  that  deepened  the  shadows  of  bereavement. 
These  days  of  darkness  were  partially  relieved  by  his 
constant  and  absorbing  ministration  to  his  dying 
father.  This  fih'al  devotion  to  his  honored  parent 
was  something  remarkable.  W/ien  he  returned  from 
preaching  in  a  neighboring  town  and  was  apprised  of 
his  father's  death,  his  demonstrations  of  grief  were 
deeply  affecting.  In  1878,  after  his  return  to  Charles- 
ton, he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Holmes,  of  this 
city,  for  many  years  a  devoted  friend,  and  one  of  the 
most  zealous  and  efficient  members  of  his  Church. 
This  congenial  and  happy  union  was  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  a  beautiful  and  lovely  daughter.  The  open- 
ing of  this  long  sealed  fountain  of  joy  in  his  lieart  and 


6i 


the  voices  of  children  in  his  household,  completely 
realized  his  dream  of  earthly  happiness.  He  did  not 
live  to  seethe  face  of  the  dear  son.  William  Hooper, 
who  bears  his  name,  and  on  whom  we  eainestly  pray 
the  father's  mantje  may  fall. 

We  have  alluded  on  a  tbrmer  occasion  to  Mr. 
Adams' passionate  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christian 
union,  on  the  basis  of  Christian  love,  drawing  the 
disciples  of  a  common  Saviour  into  the  fellowship  of 
prayer  and  Christian  work.  He  delighted  in  these 
public  services  in  which  all  denominations  could  for  a 
season  forget  their  ecclesiastical  differences,  and  heart- 
ily unite  their  prayers  and  praises.  He  was  the 
most  diligent  and  laborious  of  us  all  in  the  clerical 
union,  the  "Bible  Society,"  the  Young  Men's  Associ- 
ation and  the  "  Evangelical  Alliance."  We  feel  that 
a  valuable  stream  of  social  and  religious  influence  has 
been  cut  off  in  our  midst,  and  a  channel  left  dry 
which  may  never  again  be  filled.  It  was  a  stream 
upon  whose  waters  the  sunlight  ahvays  glistened, 
which  dispensed  an  influence  peculiarly  its  own,  and 
being  confined  by  no  fi.xed  channel,  overflowed  in 
numbeiless  streamlets  that  ran  in  all  directions, 
searching  for  dry  and  thirsty  places  that  needed  most 
to  be  refreshed. 


As  a  Christian  man,  the  character  gf  Mr.  Adams, 
with  all  its  womanly  sweetness  and  tenderness,  was 
built  on  the  strong  foundation  of  Christian  principle. 
The  fair  and  fragrant  blossoms  sprang  from  roots 
that  were  nourished  with  the  sap  of  truth  and  right- 
ousness.  If  any  one  supposes  that  this  affable  and 
amiable  brother  was  a  weak  sentimentalist,  the  opin- 
ion is  grounded   in   ijjnorance   of  iiis    real   character. 


62 


The  gentler  virtues  were  jewels  that  had  a  strong 
setting.  Many  will  be  surprised  to  know  that  Ps. 
xxvi.  was  his  favorite,  which  he  carried  in  his  pocket 
during  the  greater  part  of  his  ministerial  life.  The 
burden  of  this  beautiful  song  is  indicated  in  tlie  first 
two  ver.-^es  :  "Judge  nie,  O  Lord;  for  I  have  walked 
in  mine  integrity.  I  have  trusted  also  in  the  Lord; 
therefore  I  shall  not  slide.  Examine  me.  O  Lord,  and 
prove  me,  try  my  reins  and  my  heart."  Integrity  of 
character,  such  as  vvould  stand  the  searching  exami- 
nation of  God's  holy  ej-e,  this  was  his  ideal.  His 
prayer  was  answered.  God  did  "  examine  and  prove 
him."  He  proved  hmi  by  disappointment,  adversity, 
bereavement  and  bitter  trials.  Mistakes  and  errors  of 
judgment  are  common  to  erring  humanity,  but  the 
integrity  of  motive,  purpose,  and  principle,  shone  like 
gold  and  silver  tried  by  fire.  His  steadfast  integrity, 
combined  with  an  unfaltering  "  trust  also  in  the  Lord," 
constituted  the  granite  basis  of  his  unyielding  resolu- 
tion and  obstinate  perseverance.  His  indomitable 
will  never  seemed  to  be  embarrassed  by  difficulties, 
nor  intimidated  by  the  most  formidable  opposition. 
Yet  in  the  expression  of  his  opinions,  and  the  advo- 
cacy of  his  cause,  his  modesty  and  calmness  were 
equal  to  his  firmness  and  courage.  His  equanimity 
was  never  ruffled  by  the  excitements  of  passion,  and 
he  scorned  the  mean  and  cowardly  spirit  that  contends 
for  victory  by  abusing  the  character  and  impuning 
the  motives  of  his  opponent.  He  never  "returned 
railing  for  railing,  but  contrariwise  blessing."  He 
could  obey  the  injunction,  "  bless  them  that  curse  you, 
do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for  them 
that  despitetully  use  you  and  persecute  you."  He 
would  put  the  most  charitable  construction  upon  the 


63 


motives  of  those  from    whose  h'ps  he  suffered  wron<^ 
and  injustice. 

He  requited  the  slanderer  with  prayers  and  good 
wishes,  and  attributed  the  calumny  to  ignorance  or 
prejudice,  or  a  mistaken  zeal  in  the  cause  of  truth. 
Wc  do  not  regard  it  as,  in  itself,  any  credit  to  a  man 
who  has  led  a  public  life,  to  die  without  an  eneni}'. 
It  w^is  the  glory  of  the  Ideal  Man  that  he  died  with 
so  fjw  friends  to  mourn  liim,  and  the  glorious  apostle 
made  a  host  of  enemies  "  by  telling  them  the  truth." 
If  there  be  one  living  who  can  cherish  a  feeling  of 
enmit}'  towards  this  beloved  brother,  it  must  have 
been  excited  by  what  he  regarded  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  iiis  duty,  not  by  any  natural  disposition  of 
his  character. 

And  now,  dear  friends,  let  me  close  this  "  labor  of 
love."  which  you  have  been  pleased  to  entrust  to  me, 
because  I  knew  your  lamented  pastor  so  well,  which 
I  could  wish  had  been  committed  to  abler  and 
v/orthier  hands.  But  justice  to  our  honoied  friend 
requires  me  to  add,  that  had  he  been  an  entire 
stranger  to  me,  I  could  say  every  word  that  I  have  said 
to-night,  from  the  materials  which  his  numerous 
friends,  Noith  and  South,  have  placed  in  my  hands. 
This  feeble  portraiture,  of  one  whose  memory  de- 
serves to  be  better  honored,  was  not  drawn  from  my 
own  conceptions  of  his  character,  nor  is  it  modified 
by  the  paitialities  of  friendship.  I  have  only  mixed 
and  put  u[3on  the  canvass  as  well  as  I  coulci  the  colors 
that  were  given  to  me  by  others.  There  remains  only 
one  finishing  stroke.  I  believe  I  have  vindicated  his 
title  to  be  placed  in  the  gallery  of  earnest  men,  by 
showing  that  he  lived  a  life  of  active,  untiring  indus- 
trv.      He  was  never  idle.      He  was  hard  at  work,  and 


64 


preparing  for  new  labors,  when  the  Master  called 
him.  His  triumphant  death  was  a  fitting  close  to 
such  a  life.  So  faithful!)'  did  he  preach  and  illustrate 
the  gospel  of  Grace,  that  a  member  of  his  Presbytery 
remarked  that  Bro.  Adams  was  "  peneti-ated  with  the 
Gospel  through  and  through."  Death  to  such  a 
man  is  but  a  step  from  Grace  to  (jlory.  He  has  gone 
to  join  the  "great  congregation,"  which  he  saw  in  his 
heavenly  vision— the  "  great  multitude  wliich  no  man 
can  number,  of  all  nations,  and  kindred,  and  people, 
and  tongues,  standing  before  the  throne,  and  before 
the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and  with  palms 
in  their  hands." 


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Adl94 


A  memorial  of  the  late  Rev. 
William  H.  Adams,  for  twelve 
years  pastor  of  the  Circular 
"^^i^rch,  «harlestdnr"S.  C 


BWTTLEDOjiOt 
PHOTOCOPY 


//' 


t 


